The devastating loss of Derek Carr to injury has thrown the New Orleans Saints into uncharted territory as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
In a surprising move, rookie Spencer Rattler will be leading the Saints on Sunday, as announced by coach Dennis Allen during a press conference on Wednesday. Despite not having any regular season experience, Rattler’s impressive performance in preseason games (20 of 38, 202 yards, one touchdown) has generated excitement among Saints fans about his potential. With Carr sidelined due to an oblique injury, Rattler has been given the chance to showcase his skills, edging out backup Jake Haener for the starting quarterback position.
Following Carr’s injury during Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Haener stepped in while Rattler was designated as the emergency third QB. Now, Rattler finds himself in the spotlight as he prepares to take on the Buccaneers as QB1.
A former five-star prospect from Arizona, Rattler began his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina after losing his starting position to Caleb Williams. Despite posting impressive stats at South Carolina, including a 67.5% completion rate, 6,212 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions, Rattler surprisingly flew under the radar in the 2024 draft, leading to his fifth-round selection as the 150th overall pick.
As Rattler gears up for his debut as a starting quarterback in the NFL, he joins a select group of rookie quarterbacks making waves in the 2024 season. Alongside Drake Maye, who is set to start for the New England Patriots this Sunday, Rattler will be the fourth and fifth rookie quarterbacks to lead their teams onto the field. Notably, Rattler will be the first rookie quarterback selected outside of the first round to start in the 2024 season.
With all eyes on Rattler as he steps into the starting role for the Saints, the young quarterback faces a high-pressure situation as he looks to prove himself on the big stage. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Rattler can rise to the occasion and make a name for himself in the NFL.
