New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler is set to take his first regular-season NFL snaps on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Saints coach Dennis Allen named Rattler as this week’s starter on Wednesday after confirming that the regular starter, Derek Carr, will be out for at least one game due to a left oblique injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of New Orleans’ 26-13 loss in Kansas City on Monday night.
“We just talked a lot about it internally and felt that in this particular game, he would give us the best chance to win,” Allen said. “He’s a rookie, so there will be some challenges that come with that. But I think we’ll have a solid plan for him.”
This decision means that, for now, the 24-year-old Rattler moves ahead of second-year player Jake Haener on the depth chart.
Haener, 25, took over for Carr after his injury in Kansas City and also played late in two easy wins to start the season. He has attempted only eight passes this season, completing two for 17 yards. He has not thrown any interceptions and has not thrown a touchdown.
Allen mentioned that Rattler had shown potential while acting as the scout team quarterback during the first five weeks of the season.
“He’s made some really good plays against our defense,” Allen said. “He’s made accurate throws, and his mobility has been good.”
Rattler, 24, was picked by the Saints in the fifth round of last spring’s NFL draft after playing for South Carolina, where he started for two seasons after transferring from Oklahoma.
In his final college season in 2023, he started 12 games and passed for 3,186 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Allen said Rattler shouldn’t worry about being taken out quickly if he struggles in the first few possessions.
“You’ve got to let the guy go in there and play,” Allen said. “We’re not going into this game thinking, ‘If you make a mistake, we’re going to pull you.’”
Meanwhile, Rattler’s center will be Conner McGovern, an eight-year veteran who joined the team recently and made his debut on Monday night.
He was brought in because Shane Lemieux (ankle) became the second Saints center this season to go on injured reserve, joining usual starter Erik McCoy (groin).
