The New Orleans Saints are entering a new era after hiring Kellen Moore as the head coach, and the preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers will be the first test of his leadership.
While preseason games are often used to evaluate depth and rookies, fans are eager to know whether Moore plans to roll out his key starters or keep them on the sidelines to avoid early-season injuries. So, let’s take a look at Moore’s plans for the preseason opener against the Chargers.
Saints To Play All Three Quarterbacks in Season Opener, Rest Key Veterans
Moore confirmed Friday that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler will start the preseason game against the Chargers. He will be followed by rookie Tyler Shough and third-year quarterback Jake Haener.
“We’ll start Spencer in the game, and then from there we’ll go Tyler, and then Jake,” Moore said.
However, Moore also revealed that the quarterbacks won’t get to play with the full first-string offense as he looks to rest several key starters, including star running back Alvin Kamara. Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and others are expected to get snaps in place of Kamara.
One reason fans can expect to see a relatively higher number of starters in action for the Saints compared to other teams is that New Orleans hasn’t had joint practice with another team. The Saints had an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, and given the lack of work done by the starters, several names, including receivers Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks, are expected to be in action.
Players To Look Out For in Saints’ Preseason Opener
The Saints have good depth all around the roster, and the key position battle to watch in the preseason still remains at quarterback. With three quarterbacks fighting for the QB1 spot, the preseason will serve as a key evaluation for Moore to determine his starter for Week 1 of the regular season.
Entering Sunday, Rattler is the frontrunner for the job, but Shough and Haener aren’t far behind in the race. A good preseason could solidify Rattler as the starter for Week 1, but anything below will complicate matters for Moore.
Spencer Rattler warming up before the scrimmage dumping it off Kendre Miller. @wdsu pic.twitter.com/9FBqBqOzSX
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) August 9, 2025
Kendre Miller will be another name to watch out for on the offense as he looks to win the RB2 job. With rookie draft pick Devin Neal missing some part of the preseason, Miller will see significant snaps and has the chance to separate from the likes of Neal, Cam Akers, and Edwards-Helaire in live action.
On the defensive side, Isaiah Foskey and Vernon Broughton have the last chance to make a mark and find a roster spot. Foskey, a former top-50 draft pick, has yet to make an impact entering his third season and needs a strong preseason to separate himself from Jonah Williams and Chris Rumph II.
Meanwhile, Broughton was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and is at risk of missing out on a roster spot. He’s been stuck on the third-string defensive line behind Nathan Shepherd, Jonathan Bullard, and Williams, and will be looking to jump over them in preseason.
