Spencer Rattler is set to take the snaps under center when the New Orleans Saints open their preseason schedule against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.
Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the move, signaling that the Saints are approaching the exhibition contest with a clear plan for how they want to evaluate their quarterbacks.
Tyler Shough, the established starter heading into his second season, will not see action in the game. The decision stems from the substantial work Shough and the first-team offense already logged against Jacksonville during joint practices earlier in the week.
Moore explained that those sessions delivered the kind of sustained, game-like exposure the coaches value most at this stage of the summer. Longer drives of eight to ten plays forced the unit to operate under conditions closer to real football than the shorter, more controlled periods typical of training camp.
Facing an unfamiliar defense also provided different looks and styles that the Saints’ own unit could not fully replicate.
In Moore’s view, that practice work served as the primary test for the starters. As a result, most of New Orleans’ regulars are expected to sit on Saturday, a approach mirrored by Jacksonville coach Liam Coen with his own veterans. The Superdome game will therefore tilt heavily toward reserves and players still competing for roster spots.
For Rattler, the start carries meaningful opportunity. With Shough’s position atop the depth chart no longer in question, the preseason opener becomes a chance for Rattler to build his case for the backup role through actual game repetitions.
Moore was direct when asked whether Rattler would open the contest, simply answering yes. Later in the game, undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers could also see time.
Shough’s rapid rise provides important context for the choice. Selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, he did not begin his rookie year as the starter.
He eventually claimed the job and started nine games, posting a 5-4 record while completing 221 of 327 passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. His 91.3 passer rating helped make him a finalist for Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. By the offseason, the Saints had settled on him as their clear No. 1.
Moore liked what he saw from Shough during the joint practices, citing good command and several positives while noting that continued improvement remains the priority. The coaching staff simply preferred to bank those meaningful reps in a practice setting rather than the preseason game.
Saturday’s contest therefore shifts the focus. While fans curious about Shough’s Year 2 progress will have to wait, the game offers Rattler and other depth players a valuable stage to prove themselves before the regular season begins.
