The New Orleans Saints have chosen second-year quarterback Jake Haener to start against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, according to a source who spoke anonymously because the decision hadn’t been officially announced yet.
The decision, first reported by the New Orleans Football website, suggests that the Saints believe starter Derek Carr is too injured to play this week.
Carr suffered a concussion and hurt his left, non-throwing hand during the Saints’ 14-11 win over the New York Giants last Sunday.
On Wednesday, interim head coach Darren Rizzi said he couldn’t rule out Carr’s ability to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol and potentially play despite the hand injury. Rizzi mentioned that Carr doesn’t need surgery and that his status will be “week to week” for the rest of the season.
However, Carr did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler split first-team practice reps.
Haener, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick from Fresno State, will make his first career NFL start this weekend. So far, he has thrown for 177 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions, in seven career appearances— all this season.
Rattler, a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, has passed for 571 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in three career starts while Carr was out with an oblique injury from Weeks 6 through 8.
The Saints (5-8) are still in the race for a playoff spot after winning three of their last four games under Rizzi, who took over as interim head coach after Dennis Allen was let go following a seven-game losing streak from Weeks 3 to 9.
Washington (8-5) is currently in the NFC playoff race and will face the Saints, a team that has not beaten any teams with a winning record.
