METAIRIE, La. — Spencer Rattler, the rookie quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, is set to make his first regular-season NFL appearance on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rattler, a former standout at Phoenix Pinnacle High School, joins Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers as the only two starting quarterbacks in the NFL who played high school football in Arizona. Rated by 247 Sports as the top pro-style quarterback and a top-10 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, Rattler initially signed with Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced Rattler as the starting quarterback this week after confirming that Derek Carr would be sidelined for at least one game due to a left oblique injury sustained in the fourth quarter of New Orleans’ 26-13 loss to Kansas City.
“We talked about it internally and felt he gives us the best chance to win in this game,” Allen stated. “He’s a rookie, so challenges will come with that. But we have a solid plan for him.”
This decision elevates the 24-year-old Rattler above second-year quarterback Jake Haener on the depth chart. Haener, 25, replaced Carr during the Kansas City game and has thrown only eight passes this season, completing two for 17 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions.
Allen noted Rattler’s impressive performance as the scout team quarterback over the past five weeks, emphasizing his ability to make accurate throws and display good mobility.
Drafted in the fifth round by the Saints last spring, Rattler played two seasons at South Carolina after transferring from Oklahoma, where he threw for 3,186 yards and 19 touchdowns in his final college season.
Allen reassured Rattler that he would not be pulled for mistakes early on. “He needs the opportunity to play,” Allen said. “We’re not going in saying ‘If you make a mistake, we’re going to pull you.’”
Rattler will be snapping the ball to Conner McGovern, an eight-year veteran acquired recently. McGovern stepped in for Shane Lemieux, who went on injured reserve for an ankle injury, joining starter Erik McCoy, who is out with a groin injury.
McGovern remarked on Rattler’s confidence and professionalism during their first practice together. “You could see he was playing with a lot of confidence. His presence in the huddle was really professional,” he stated.
The Saints, currently sitting at 2-3 and on a three-game losing streak, face a tight schedule with two games in five days, starting with the Buccaneers before hosting the Denver Broncos the following Thursday. Due to this compressed timeline, it is possible Carr may miss additional games.
Allen made it clear that Rattler’s situation will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. “We’re focusing on this week and will assess the situation afterward,” he said.