Saints name starting quarterback for preseason opener versus Chargers

IRVINE, Ca. (WGNO) – The Saints three-man quarterback battle headed to the west coast this week. The Black and Gold continued training camp back in Irvine, California, and will remain at Crawford Field for their first two preseason games.

The first exhibition match is Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, and following Friday’s practice, head coach Kellen Moore officially named Spencer Rattler the starter.

“We had a couple different options as we went through this. I think, certainly, he’s earned his way as he’s gone through this. It’s just the starting point. We’ll start here, and then, continue to keep evaluating this thing as we go,” Moore said.

Rattler may hit the field first, but both Tyler Shough and Jake Haener will get their time on the field Sunday.

“All those guys will get in there. They’ll hop in there. It’ll be a great rotation for those guys,” the first-year head coach continued.

“I just try to control what I can throughout camp. Play my best and whatever order or whatever happens, happens. Excited to get out there with the guys and try to play some clean ball, try to score some points and have some fun with the guys out there,” Rattler added.

Although Moore has previously stated the first preseason game will be a pivotal point in determining the full-time starter, the Saints head coach won’t allow Sunday to usurp the entire body of work all three QBs have put up, since the beginning of training camp.

“It’ll be another piece to the puzzle as we go through this. They’re important pieces. They’re games, and there’s tackling, sacks and all the things you gotta deal with, when a game is full go. It’ll be an evaluation piece for us. By no means is it any bigger than the collection of all these practices that have occurred,” Moore explained.

Rattler’s start Sunday at least indicates where he stands in the quarterback battle, but the news has not swayed Shough or Haener’s confidence in their individual abilities to nab the starting job.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to go out there and play; get a couple quarters in, go out there and just have fun, rip it with all the stuff that we’ve been working towards. I think you gotta keep that perspective: All these practices, all we’ve been working for, excited to go out there and have that opportunity,” Shough said when asked about the starting order.

The second round rookie has flashed at times during training camp, but the Louisville alum highlighted how much more growth is ahead of him.

“I’ve been here three or four months now, and I feel, in the past couple weeks, so much better than I did. Tomorrow, I’m going to try to get better, and then, who knows where we’ll be at the end of the season.”

“I’m not gonna be Tom Brady or Drew Brees in training camp right now. I want to aspire to continue to grow, and I think the coaches have done a good job of just facilitating a lot of these practices and especially towards the end, when we’re getting into more realistic scenarios,” Shough finished.

Meanwhile, the most-veteran player in the QB room continues to watch rather than play with the starting unit, but Haener is not focused on when he can play with the starters and instead is honing in on doing what is asked of him.

“That’s not my job to worry about. My job is to go and execute, when I’m on the field and make the most out of every opportunity that I get,” Haener said.

The third-year quarterback has gotten the least amount of reps with the starters.

Through two scrimmages, Haener has ran most of his snaps with the third-string offense, and the trend will likely continue, during the team’s preseason opener.

“I have no idea how much I’m gonna be playing. At the end of the day, go and see how they’re playing the game: What the show looks like, what coverages they’re playing, and at the end of the day, just find completions and get the ball in the end zone,” the Fresno State alum explained.

The Saints and Chargers kick-off at 3:05 p.m. Central time on Sunday.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

Saints name starting quarterback for preseason opener versus Chargers

Tags: