Spencer Rattler will start for the New Orleans Saints against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the team announced Wednesday. Rattler steps in for quarterback Derek Carr, who was ruled out for multiple games after sustaining an oblique injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday.
After exiting in the fourth quarter, Carr was replaced by backup QB Jake Haener, who went 2-for-7 for 17 yards in the closing minutes of the Saints’ 26-13 loss. This time around, the Saints will “let (Rattler) go play and see what he can do,” coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday.
“We talked a lot as a staff about what we felt like was the best thing for us, to give us the best chance to win the game,” Allen said. “That was the decision that we made, and we’re excited about him getting the opportunity to go in there.”
Dennis Allen on Spencer Rattler starting on Sunday for the #Saints pic.twitter.com/ecEtRyMNiP
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 9, 2024
Rattler, a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, impressed during preseason. Over three games, he finished 20-for-38 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown. Rattler’s best showing came in the final preseason game — a loss to the Tennessee Titans. He finished 7-for-13 for 105 yards and a touchdown, adding 13 yards on the ground and leading all four of the Saints’ scoring drives during the 30-27 loss.
Required reading
(Photo: Perry Knotts / Getty Images)
