METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler is scheduled to take his first regular-season NFL snaps on Sunday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A former Phoenix Pinnacle Excessive star, Rattler joins San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy of Gilbert Perry Excessive because the NFL’s solely two beginning quarterbacks to play highschool ball in Arizona.
At Pinnacle, Rattler was rated by 247 Sports activities as the most effective pro-style quarterback and a top-10 total prospect within the 2019 class, initially signing with Oklahoma earlier than transferring to South Carolina.
Saints coach Dennis Allen chosen Rattler as this week’s starter on Wednesday after confirming that common starter Derek Carr will miss no less than one sport due to a left indirect harm that occurred within the fourth quarter of New Orleans’ 26-13 loss in Kansas Metropolis on Monday evening.
“We simply internally talked lots about it and felt like on this explicit sport he was going to provide us the most effective probability to win,” Allen mentioned. “He’s a rookie. So, we’re going to have some challenges that associate with that. However I feel we’ll have a very good plan for him.”
The choice signifies that — for now — the 24-year-old Rattler strikes forward of second-year professional Jake Haener on the depth chart.
Haener, 25, changed Carr after his harm in Kansas Metropolis and likewise performed late in a pair of lopsided victories to begin the season. He’s tried simply eight passes throughout his possibilities to play this season, finishing two for 17 yards. He has not been intercepted and has not thrown for a landing.
Allen famous that Rattler had proven promise whereas serving because the scout crew QB throughout the first 5 weeks of the season.
“He’s made some actually good performs in opposition to our protection,” Allen mentioned. “He’s made some correct throws and his mobility’s been good.”
Rattler, 24, was chosen by the Saints within the fifth spherical of final spring’s NFL draft out of South Carolina, the place he began for 2 seasons after transferring from Oklahoma.
Throughout his ultimate faculty season in 2023, he began 12 video games, passing for 3,186 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Allen mentioned Rattler mustn’t fear about being subbed out rapidly if he struggles to carry out throughout New Orleans’ first few possessions.
“You’ve acquired to let the man go in there and play,” Allen mentioned. “We’re not going into this sport saying that, you already know, ‘Should you make a mistake, we’re going to tug you.’”
In the meantime, Rattler’s middle will likely be newly acquired, eight-year veteran Conner McGovern, who made his debut with the membership on Monday evening.
He was acquired as Shane Lemieux (ankle) turned the second Saints middle this season to go on injured reserve, becoming a member of common starter Erik McCoy (groin).
McGovern’s first time snapping the ball to Rattler was throughout a lightweight walkthrough the Saints held on Wednesday.
“He was dialed in,” McGovern mentioned. “You would inform he was taking part in with lots of confidence. His huddle presence was actually skilled.
“That’s what I all the time search for in a quarterback,” McGovern added. “You want that swagger, that confidence, to play quarterback and he was taking part in with it at present.”
The Saints (2-3), who’ve misplaced three straight, are about to play two video games within the span of 5 days. After Sunday’s matchup with the Bucs, Denver visits the next Thursday evening. The compressed timeline will increase the probability that Carr may miss a couple of sport.
Allen careworn that whereas Rattler is now making ready to begin, “It’s actually mainly going to be form of a week-to-week deal.”
“We’ll fear about this week proper now and see the place we’re at after that,” Allen mentioned.