New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener will open the season as Derek Carr's backup. He's officially active for Week 1 while rookie Spencer Rattler is a healthy scratch. The Saints' depth chart generated some buzz at the quarterback position, where Haener and Rattler were listed as co-backups, but it appears we now have a firm answer, at least for the start of the year. Haener was a fourth-round pick in 2023 and spent all of last season developing in the Saints' roster, but he has yet to appear in a game. Rattler was the team's fifth-round pick this year after he put together a couple of solid seasons at the University of South Carolina. Both players remain off the redraft radar as long as Carr is healthy.
The New Orleans Saints have listed quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener as co-backups on their first official depth chart for the 2024 season behind starter Derek Carr. The Saints apparently couldn't decide on either Rattler or Haener as the primary backup behind Carr after they competed all throughout training camp and the preseason. Neither signal-caller stood out over the other during preseason games, so it's anyone's guess who will be active behind Carr this Sunday for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Rattler was a fifth-rounder back in April, and the Saints want to develop him for a potential starting role down the line. Haener, 25, was a fourth-round selection back in 2021 but has yet to make his NFL debut.
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was impressive in the team's final preseason game. Rattler completed 7-of-13 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown while also scrambling twice for 13 yards. The 23-year-old had two highlight-reel passes, showcasing the ability to be a future NFL starter. It remains to be seen if he has won the backup job over second-year quarterback Jake Haener, although he outplayed his competition on Sunday. Rattler remains an intriguing dynasty league stash, given that incumbent quarterback Derek Carr appears to be on a short leash along with head coach Dennis Allen.
New Orleans Saints' rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler had a tough outing in Sunday night's preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 23-year-old completed 4-of-8 passing attempts for 27 yards while scrambling three times for five yards. Rattler did set up a 52-yard field goal for kicker Blake Grupe in the third quarter, but those were the only points he initiated in the loss. He was the second quarterback in the game behind Derek Carr, a positive development after he played behind Jake Haener last week. The two will continue to fight for the backup job in Week 3's preseason finale against Tennessee.
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler (thigh) told the media that he is feeling 100% amid his thigh injury. The fifth-round pick in this year's draft reportedly suffered a bruised thigh in Saturday's preseason game. Before the injury, Rattler looked quite sharp in his pro debut, going 9-for-17 with 70 passing yards and a rushing score. This injury kept him out for a few days, and he is now past the minor setback. Even though Jake Haener is currently serving as the backup in New Orleans, Rattler could contend for that role, given his performance last week. Dynasty managers should continue to follow Rattler during the preseason, as he could be worth stashing if he continues to take advantage of any playing opportunities.
New Orleans Saints rookie fifth-round quarterback Spencer Rattler (thigh) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday apparently suffered a bruised thigh in his NFL debut in Saturday's preseason contest against the Arizona Cardinals and sat out Sunday's practice. Rattler followed Derek Carr and Jake Haener on Saturday and went 9-for-17 for 70 yards while also rushing for a touchdown. The fact that the 23-year-old was back at practice on Tuesday should allow him to play in the second preseason game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Rattler and Haener are in a true battle for the QB2 job behind Carr. Rattler has the superior arm talent, but Haener has shown plenty of playmaking ability as well. How they fare in the rest of the preseason should decide the competition.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (thigh) missed practice on Sunday, according to NFL insider Nick Underhill. The rookie signal-caller reportedly suffered a slight thigh bruise, but he received treatment on Sunday and is expected to return for the Saints' next practice. One would have to imagine that Rattler suffered the injury during the Saints' preseason game on Saturday. The fact that he expects to return for the team's next practice is a good sign given that he's locked into a serious competition with Jake Haener for the backup quarterback role. Rattler and Haener will continue to showcase themselves through the remainder of training camp and the preseason.
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler strung together an impressive showing in Saturday's 16-14 preseason win over Arizona. Rattler was third in the pecking order behind Derek Carr and Jake Haener, but was able to play the entire second half. The rookie completed 9-of-17 passes for 70 yards while also rushing twice for eight yards and a touchdown. The game-winning drive was strung together in the game's final minute, which was capped off with a Charlie Smyth field goal. Rattler will continue to compete with Haener for the backup job.
Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener Battling For Backup Role
New Orleans Saints quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener (skin cancer) "are in a true battle for QB2," according to Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. While some teams say the role is up for grabs but have a clear favorite, that doesn't appear to be the case in New Orleans, where it truly is up for grabs between Rattler and Haener. "The key is, do we have a [QB2] or do we have two [QB3s]?" head coach Dennis Allen asked. "Two [QB3s] doesn't help you. So you want to see who steps up and earns the job. And that's what training camp is all about." In terms of the competition, Rattler has draft capital on his side; the Saints spent a fifth-round pick on him less than four months ago. Haener, meanwhile, has experience in the New Orleans system after spending all of 2023 in their organization. It's also worth noting that Haener, a fourth-round pick last year, recently underwent treatment for a rare form of skin cancer on his cheek, but it's not expected to impact his playing ability. This will be a fascinating positional battle to watch, though neither quarterback has much redraft appeal.
Spencer Rattler Could Be Great Value Pick For Saints
The New Orleans Saints took former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler in the fifth round, mainly because two teams that were very high on him -- the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos -- drafted QBs in the top 12 this year. Despite his drop in this year's NFL draft, Rattler is not perceived as 138 picks worse than Bo Nix, as some evaluators had Rattler awfully close to the same tier as Nix, who went 12th overall to Denver. One team source had zero issues with the perceived image concerns facing Rattler, who appearance in the documentary "QB1" during his high school career didn't portray his personality in the best light. Going into his first NFL season in New Orleans, Rattler is facing an uphill battle to win the No. 2 job from Jake Haener in training camp this summer.
