With Derek Carr sidelined with an indirect damage, New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has made up his thoughts about who will begin for the Saints this weekend in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Rattler, the Saints’ fifth-round choice within the 2024 NFL Draft, was designated because the group’s No. 3 quarterback behind Carr and Jake Haener for every of New Orleans’ first 5 video games of the season. However with Carr anticipated to overlook a number of weeks together with his indirect damage, the group is popping to Rattler, and never Haener, for at the very least this weekend.
Throughout preseason motion, Rattler accomplished 20-of-38 passes for 202 yards and a landing, and he didn’t throw an interception.
That lone landing got here on a well-thrown vertical path to Equanimeous St. Brown, understanding of the slot:
Rattler additionally confirmed a capability to assault the center of the sphere with timing and anticipation, as he did on this play in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, working off of play-action:
Or on this completion to Stanley Morgan Jr. in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals
In his restricted preseason motion, Rattler additionally confirmed a capability to affect defenders together with his eyes. On this completion to A.T. Perry, once more working off play-action, Rattler flashes his eyes to the center of the sphere simply earlier than making this throw. That little little bit of affect holds the protection in the course of the sphere, creating more room for Perry’s vertical route:
Now, Rattler will get an opportunity to place these expertise to the check for actual, in opposition to the Buccaneers in his NFL debut.