New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore tried to keep away from any quarterback controversies between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
When Moore named Rattler because the starter previous to the 2025 NFL common season beginning, the first-year head coach instantly shut down the concept of a dispute amongst his signal-callers.
“We’re not entering into this QB debate all through this season,” Moore stated in August. “Spencer is our beginning quarterback. Tyler’s going to maintain creating. You want a pair quarterbacks in-season. It is a lengthy NFL season, and so I feel we do worth that we’ve depth there and need to navigate the remainder of it as we go, however we’re actually enthusiastic about Spence. He will do an superior job for us.”
On Tuesday, the Saints formally made a change with the season’s midpoint approaching, naming Shough as their starter for Sunday’s Week 9 recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox).
This might be Shough’s first week of preparation with the first-team offense for the reason that preseason. The second-round choose has been operating the scout crew in follow because the No. 2 quarterback however looks like he has taken steps from the place he was a couple of months in the past.
“I’ve discovered quite a bit. Spencer’s performed some actually, actually good issues. With the ability to see that progress, develop myself, I have been getting, if not essentially the most reps in follow from a scout-team perspective,” Shough stated. “… I felt every week I have been persevering with to develop and felt actually, actually able to go. And yeah, it has been good, however I bought to proceed to develop, in order that’s bought to be the reply.”
Moore admitted on Sunday that he was not a fan of “flip-flopping quarterbacks,” which begs the query of why he is making the change now.
For all of Moore’s early optimism about Rattler, 25, operating the offense, the coach possible could not deny that issues weren’t bettering.
The Saints exited Sunday’s 23-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 1-7 report and dismal rankings among the many league on offense — twenty seventh in complete yards, twenty ninth in factors, twenty second in passing and twenty eighth in speeding. The Saints have turned the ball over 12 instances this season — second solely to the Tennessee Titans by means of Week 8.
Issues took a flip prior to now two weeks. Rattler, who had turned the ball over as soon as within the first six video games, misplaced the ball six instances in six quarters. The opposing groups (Tampa Bay and the Chicago Bears) scored two touchdowns and kicked a discipline purpose because of these turnovers.
Rattler’s efficiency appeared to open the door for Shough. Moore had made it clear in earlier weeks that he had by no means entertained the concept of benching Rattler midgame, even when the crew was struggling in opposition to the Bears in Week 7.
However issues shifted final week following Rattler’s four-turnover efficiency in opposition to Chicago. Moore fielded a number of quarterback questions within the week after that recreation, and this time, he did not fully shut down the notion of creating a change on the recreation’s most necessary place.
When requested at what level the Saints may want to think about enjoying Shough, Moore stated that it could be a week-to-week factor. The Saints chosen Shough with the fortieth choose of the 2025 draft, their earliest quarterback choice since Archie Manning was picked No. 2 out of Ole Miss in 1971.
“We’ll see as we go,” Moore stated.
That second got here a couple of minutes into the second half of the Saints’ loss to the Buccaneers, when Moore turned to Shough in hopes he may mild a flame underneath the crew.
Nevertheless, the fireplace by no means ignited because the Saints could not set up any rhythm on offense. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill ran the ball 4 instances for 12 yards after Shough entered the sport.
The trailing Saints then leaned closely on the passing recreation, throwing the ball 30 instances with Shough, and wouldn’t rating once more.
“No nerves. I feel preparation sensible, physique sensible, I used to be feeling good, so simply was going on the market and doing every little thing I can,” Shough stated. “We’ll proceed to sort of get in a groove, get higher. However yeah, I imply I used to be able to go, and simply bought to proceed to maintain constructing.”
Rattler stated he was stunned on the determination to bench him in Sunday’s recreation, however he understood. He stated the choice will not change his perspective going ahead.
“I imply I simply go at it the identical means. It is a part of the sport. I have been by means of adversity earlier than,” Rattler stated. “I will be a very good teammate, have good physique language, nonetheless be a frontrunner. So I simply bought to indicate as much as work, maintain a smile on my face, maintain working, and you may solely management what you possibly can.”
Following the Saints’ fourth dwelling lack of the season, Moore stated he can be evaluating every little thing concerning the struggling offense and would decide inside 48 hours to provide whichever quarterback as a lot time to arrange as he may.
“We weren’t enjoying effectively on offense. It had extra to do with our complete offense than Spencer. Yeah, Spencer’s had some turnover bugs the final two weeks, however he is performed loads of good soccer. … I used to be attempting to generate a spark, attempting to generate one thing that may get us going collectively, and I believed Tyler went in there, he battled,” the coach stated.
Moore stated the choice can be based mostly solely on who offers the Saints an opportunity to win this week and shifting ahead. It additionally offers the crew its first prolonged analysis of Shough for the reason that preseason.
The Saints are presently tied with the Titans and New York Jets for the worst report within the league, giving them an opportunity to have the highest choose for the 2026 season. As of Tuesday, ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index initiatives the Saints to have the No. 2 choose. Getting an prolonged take a look at Shough over the subsequent 9 video games will permit New Orleans to have a greater concept of what it has in its quarterback room previous to April’s draft.
“All we’re attempting to do is put ourselves in the perfect place to achieve success on Sunday in opposition to L.A.,” Moore stated on Monday. “I feel the actually necessary facet is starters have to get each rep they will. You aren’t getting into this entire weekly competitors space or any of that stuff.”