Just a single quarterback competition is ongoing.
The Indianapolis Colts declared Daniel Jones as their designated quarterback Tuesday. The Cleveland Browns announced Joe Flacco as their quarterback Monday.
That means the New Orleans Saints are the only team left. They’re still trying to make up their minds between Spencer Rattler, who is in his second year, and rookie Tyler Shough.
Saints’ coach Kellen Moore commented on the situation Tuesday. He doesn’t seem closer to deciding than at the start of practices.
“It’s tight,” Moore told reporters. “We are considering all facets of this quarterback evaluation. The quarterbacks are very, very close in ability. Considering statistics, practice snaps, everything. Going back to the beginning of practices. These quarterbacks are very, very close.”
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Moore is getting questions about the Saints’ starting quarterback not only from the media. He says his kids ask him at home too. Moore gives his kids the same answers he gives reporters.
“A lot of people want to ask me about the quarterbacks, even my kids,” Moore said. “It’s an entertaining subject.”
“They have opinions about everything. Every bad decision, every throw, every play. They’ve got all the answers.”
Who’s going to get the starting job?
So who has the advantage? That’s still a secret with just one more preseason game to play.
Rattler is more of a known quantity. The 2024 fifth-round draft pick was the starter for six games as a rookie last season. He completed 57% of his passes for 188.1 yards each game with four touchdowns and five interceptions, which isn’t what you want to see from your starter.
The Saints picked Shough in the second round of the draft in April as the third quarterback available when Derek Carr’s future was up in the air. Both are fighting to be the starter now that Carr retired unexpectedly due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
Neither player has done enough to clearly win the job while dividing up the starts in New Orleans’ first two preseason games.
How have they performed?
Rattler has completed 25 of 35 passes (71.4%) for 251 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. Shough completed 24 of 34 passes (70.6%) for 231 yards (6.8 yards per attempt), also with one touchdown and one interception.
Each performed better as the second-string quarterback against defensive competition further down the opponents’ depth charts. As for who will start in Saturday’s preseason end against the Denver Broncos? Moore wasn’t ready to say who that will be.
“We’ve got three practice days and a game, so we’ve got some good work coming up,” Moore said.
When does he plan to decide? Moore answered that he “hopes” to know before New Orleans’ first game against the Arizona Cardinals.
