After scoring just three points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New Orleans Saints knew it was time to make a change at quarterback. Spencer Rattler hasn’t been getting the job done, though he did lead the team to a 26-14 win over the New York Giants. At the end of the day, the Giants are 2-6, so that isn’t the most impressive win to have. With QB Tyler Shough waiting his turn, that moment has finally arrived.
New Orleans Saints Benched Spencer Rattler For Tyler Shough
Through roughly seven and a half games, the Saints had seen enough. This season, Rattler is 174/256 for 1,586 yards with eight touchdowns to five interceptions. He’s been sacked 18 times but has added 167 yards on the ground. Ultimately, while his numbers are far from abysmal, he hasn’t done enough to get the job done.
When the team drafted Shough No. 40 overall, it was clear he would get a moment when the time was right. At this point in the season, the Saints decided to call his number. With the trade deadline looming, the Saints would love to know if Shough has what it takes to lead them to the promised land. That’s going to be much easier said than done, but they could trade Rattler, should a team be desperate for a quarterback.
Head coach Kellen Moore said the team is not looking back, and they’re solely focused on Shough moving forward. Looking at that quote in particular, it’s safe to assume that Rattler isn’t going to start unless Shough goes down with an injury. In his limited action this season, Shough is 17/32 for 128 yards with an interception. He’s been sacked twice and has three carries for 12 yards.
Rattler is currently 29th in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. His D grade indicates how poorly he has played, but there are no guarantees that Shough will be any better. The Saints would sure love for that to be the case, and he’ll have ample chances to prove himself against a favorable schedule.
Shough will make his first NFL start against the Los Angeles Rams. He has back-to-back starts on the road, including one against the Carolina Panthers, before the team has their Week 11 Bye. On paper, it seems like they were trying to wait until that point before pulling the plug on Rattler. Clearly, his performance left them with no choice. Shough will get to face the struggling Saints later this year.