Latest news with #SpencerRattler
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Surprise contender emerges to be New Orleans Saints' starting QB in 2025
The Saints' quarterback situation is reportedly less straightforward than previously believed. Following the sudden retirement of Derek Carr, many assumed that Tyler Shough was the presumptive starter given that he was selected in the second round of this year's NFL Draft. And while the former Louisville passer may in fact win the starting job, ESPN's Dan Graziano believes there will be a 'true competition' in training camp between Shough and Spencer Rattler. '...There are people in the Saints' building who like Spencer Rattler and want to give him a chance to compete with Shough for the starting job,' Graziano wrote. 'And so far this offseason, Rattler has shown improvement over his poor 2024 rookie performance. 'As of now, expect the Saints to set up training camp as a true competition between Shough and Rattler. Could Shough have the edge as the player the new coaching staff drafted with the 40th pick? Absolutely. But it doesn't sound like anything is already a done deal.' Shough, 25, spent a whopping seven years in the college ranks, playing for the likes of Oregon and Texas Tech before finishing out his collegiate career with Louisville last year. Derek Carr announced his retirement from the NFL in sudden fashion back in May And the passer had by far his best season there, notching a career-high 3,195 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Rattler, whom the Saints selected in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft, is actually a year younger than Shough. Due to injuries to Carr, Rattler got the chance to make six starts last season, in which he averaged 197 yards per game and totaled three passing touchdowns to five interceptions. New Orleans lost all six of his starts. Carr, who also suffered an oblique injury in October, saw his season prematurely end on December 8 due to a concussion and a left-hand injury. He began throwing again in March after his 2024 season ended, but soon began experiencing discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Subsequent medical scans revealed 'significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff,' according to the Saints. And although surgery was an option, it would have put his entire 2025 season in jeopardy - and still wouldn't ensure a return to full strength. Ultimately, the 34-year-old decided in May to call it quits. 'Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I've decided to retire from the National Football League,' Carr said in his statement. 'For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. 'It's difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.' The Saints will open up their 2025 season on September 7 against the Cardinals.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition Heats Up in Final Week of OTAs
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition Heats Up in Final Week of OTAs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New Orleans Saints quarterback competition stays hot. The final practice open to the media for OTAs highlighted the intense battle between rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler. New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6)Stephen Lew-Imagn Images On Thursday, the Saints' offense worked in the red zone. Spencer Rattler ended the day 6/8 passing with 3 touchdowns, while Shough finished 7/8 passing with one touchdown. Both players rotated working with the first and second teams. Advertisement The quarterback battle became public first during the open portion of the first week of OTAs when Shough and Rattler each had impressive showings. During 7-on-7 sessions, Rattler went a perfect 8/8 passing, while Shough followed up closely, going 7/8 with a deep 50+ yard bomb to Shaheed. The two young signal callers continued their impressive runs in 7-on-7 drills the following week. During the open portion of the Saints week two OTAs, Shough went 9/12 with 2 touchdowns and an interception. The rookie quarterback's touchdowns came excitingly, with both being 60+ yard deep passes. Rattler continues to be right on Shough's trail, however, going 10/12 passing. Shough finishes OTAs going 23/28 for 3 touchdowns and an interception while Rattler ends 24/28 passing with 3 touchdowns. Both players delivered impressive performances, continuing the tight battle for the starting quarterback. While head coach Kellen Moore said the team will maintain similar workouts during minicamp, the real battle will begin in training camp, when teams will be allowed contact drills. As training camp ramps up and bleeds into preseason, a starter will be named. Advertisement Related: New Orleans Saints Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to Switch Jersey Number Related: New Orleans Saints Lead NFL in Cap Space Gained After June 1st Roster Moves This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Saints share highlight videos from team paintball outing: 'It's all strategy'
NFL teams try all sorts of team-building strategies this time of the year -- there's a reason it's called "organized team activity" and not "practice" when players report for work. In previous years, the New Orleans Saints have buddied up to go bowfishing, bowling, or try other group activities. This year players went out to play paintball, and head coach Kellen Moore joined them. It looks like a great time; the Saints shared a couple of videos highlighting the players' reactions and some of the day's funnier moments. For his part, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders regretted leaving cover, laughing and holding up his yellow paint-smeared helmet for the camera: "I ran out in the middle and got smoked. It hit me square in my eyeball." Advertisement Other guys saw it as a great learning opportunity. Quarterback Spencer Rattler said afterwards, "It's all strategy, it's all the will you've got. It's tiring and it's hot out here too." Seeing guys covering each other and coordinating movement through the obstacles on the field is entertaining, but it goes a long way towards building up camaraderie in the locker room, too. And here's a better look at the different teams: Hopefully it makes a difference. The team is in a rough state five years into the post-Drew Brees era, having fired their last head coach and parted ways with who they thought could be their franchise quarterback, and they need new leaders to step up. Moore participating means a lot. Maybe live-fire experiences like this can help guys learn to trust each other, work together, and win a lot of football games in the fall. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: WATCH: New Orleans Saints share highlights from team paintball outing
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: Saints QB Jake Haener (oblique) out 'couple of weeks'
May 22 - New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener will miss "a couple of weeks" after sustaining an oblique strain, ESPN reported Thursday. Haener suffered the injury while throwing extra passes during Wednesday's OTA practice. Per ESPN, an MRI revealed a strain but no tear of the oblique for Haener, who is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. He likely will be involved in a three-way competition with rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler for the starter's role. Shough was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft last month, while Rattler was a fifth-round pick in 2024. Derek Carr, the team's starting quarterback the last two seasons, announced his retirement on May 10 due to a right shoulder injury. Haener, 26, completed 18 of 39 passes for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception in eight games (one start) last season. He was selected by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tyler Shough is the betting favorite to win the Saints' starting quarterback job
Saints coach Kellen Moore says his team will have an open competition to determine its starting quarterback. But the betting odds suggest that rookie Tyler Shough enters that competition as a heavy favorite. Shough is the favorite at multiple sports books taking bets on the quarterback who will take the first snap of the season in Week One. Shough's odds are at about -300 at various sports books. Spencer Rattler is considered Shough's closest competition with odds around +200, and Jake Haener is an extreme long shot at +3000. Advertisement Derek Carr's retirement left the Saints with the NFL's most inexperienced quarterback room,, but the 25-year-old Shough probably enters the league more prepared to start than most rookies. He had a long college career with three years at Oregon, three years at Texas Tech and one year at Louisville, and when the Saints drafted him they knew Carr's shoulder injury was serious enough that they might need Shough to play immediately. Rattler was a 2024 fifth-round draft pick who started six games as a rookie last year when Carr was injured. Haener was a 2023 fourth-round pick who started one game with Carr out last year. The Saints went 0-7 in games started by Rattler and Haener. Shough will have to prove himself in offseason work, training camp and the preseason, but if he looks like he's making progress, Moore is likely to let the rookie take his lumps and see if Shough has what it takes to develop into a franchise quarterback the Saints can build around.
