Rattler completed 26 of 42 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed once for 11 yards in the Saints' 27-19 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
The rookie quarterback got one final opportunity to gain experience and build his case for the future since Derek Carr (hand) remained sidelined, and Rattler made good use of the season-ending start. The South Carolina product was able to generate his second-highest yardage total of the season through the air and avoided an interception for the first time in his three consecutive season-ending starts. Rattler's solid performances over the last two games were particularly noteworthy considering the extremely shorthanded nature of New Orleans' offense, and it remains to be seen where he'll slot in on the organizational depth chart heading into training camp next summer.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Starting again Week 18
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Rattler will remain the starting quarterback Sunday against the Buccaneers, as Derek Carr (hand) has been ruled out, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Rattler will make his sixth NFL start, having lost the first five. Including one relief appearance, the rookie fifth-round pick has posted a 3:5 TD:INT. The banged-up Saints will face an uphill battle Sunday on the road against a Buccaneers team that would clinch a playoff berth with a win.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Two more picks in Week 17 loss
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Rattler completed 20 of 36 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in Sunday's 25-10 loss to the Raiders. He added 46 rushing yards on three carries.
It was another tough outing for the 2024 fifth-round pick. Rattler has a 3:5 TD:INT in six appearances this season, but his 46 yards on the ground were at least a career high. With the Saints having nothing to play for in Week 18 but draft position, it's not clear if Derek Carr (hand) will even be an option for the team at QB or if Rattler will finish out the season under center against the Buccaneers.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Preparing for another start
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Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Tuesday that Rattler will continue to take reps with the first team in practice and will be in line to start Sunday against the Raiders if Derek Carr (hand) is unable to play, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Though the left hand fracture that Carr sustained in a Week 14 win over the Giants had been viewed as something that would likely end his season, the veteran quarterback isn't closing the door on returning to the field for either of the Saints' final two games. That said, Rizzi didn't provide any indication that Carr would be ready to practice when the Saints begin Week 17 prep Wednesday, so Rattler still looks to be headed for a second straight start and his fifth of the season. The Saints have gone 0-4 in Rattler's prior four starts, with the rookie signal-caller completing 74 of 129 pass attempts (57.4 percent) for 724 yards (5.6 YPA), one touchdown and three interceptions in those contests. He's also lost three fumbles and has taken 17 sacks in those contests.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Pedestrian numbers in loss
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Rattler completed 15 of 30 passes for 153 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and added five rushes for 28 yards in the Saints' 34-0 loss to the Packers on Monday night. He also lost a fumble.
Rattler unsurprisingly struggled in the frigid temperatures of Lambeau Field, but he hung tough while taking three sacks overall. He did give up the ball on one of those takedowns and did so in Packers territory, but the miscue didn't lead to any points for Green Bay. Rattler's other turnover on the night, a late third-quarter interception, likewise was followed by a Packers punt, but it had more opportunity cost associated with it considering it came at the Packers' two-yard line. While Rattler couldn't lead New Orleans to any points, there's seemingly no incentive for interim head coach Darren Rizzi to short-circuit the rookie fifth-round pick's valuable opportunity for reps over the final two games -- especially with a favorable home matchup against the Raiders coming up Week 17 -- even if Derek Carr (hand) is deemed ready to play.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Officially starting for Carr
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Rattler will start Monday at Green Bay due to Derek Carr (left hand) ruled out for the contest, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Interim coach Darren Rizzi implied as much Thursday but still left the door open for Carr to prove his health as the week went on. However, Carr hasn't made enough progress in his recovery, allowing Rattler his fourth career start. In five appearances overall in his rookie campaign, Rattler has completed 69 of 120 passes (57.5 percent) for 706 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, recorded nine carries for 61 yards and committed three fumbles (two lost). Jake Haener will serve as Rattler's backup Monday.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Could draw Week 16 start
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Saints head coach Darren Rizzi announced Thursday that Rattler will start versus the Packers on Monday if Derek Carr (hand) is unavailable, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Rattler logged a solid showing after replacing Jake Haener under center during New Orleans' loss to Washington in Week 15, completing 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown, including a near last-second comeback. At this stage, Carr's Week 16 status is iffy, with Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football relaying that Rizzi indicated that the veteran QB would probably have to get in a practice by Saturday in order to play Monday.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Likely to take over as starter
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Rattler is expected to start Monday's game against the Packers with Derek Carr (hand/concussion) likely to miss the rest of the season, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Coming out of the Saints' Week 14 win over the Giants, Carr entered the concussion protocol and was also diagnosed with two fractures in his non-throwing hand. The latter injury is viewed as the greater concern and prevented him from playing in this past Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Commanders. Jake Haener drew the start for that contest but completed four of 10 pass attempts for 49 yards and an interception while taking three sacks before being benched at halftime in favor of Rattler. The rookie out of South Carolina nearly led the Saints to a comeback from a 17-0 deficit, completing 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards, including a one-yard touchdown to Foster Moreau as time expired. Rattler's potential game-winning pass to Juwan Johnson on the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but he likely showed enough to get the starting nod over Haener in Week 16. Rattler previously made three starts in place of an injured Carr in Weeks 6 through 8, going 0-3 in those contests while completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 5.8 yards per attempt, one touchdown and two interceptions to go with 61 yards on nine carries.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: In mix for Week 15 start
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Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Wednesday that he'll likely wait until Friday to choose between Rattler, Jake Haener and Derek Carr (head/hand) as the starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Green Bay, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Rattler was the emergency No. 3 quarterback for Sunday's 14-11 win over the Giants, while Haener replaced Carr after the 33-year-old suffered a concussion and a left hand fracture. The combination of injuries makes Carr a longshot to play Week 15, but the Saints aren't ready to rule him out yet and reportedly don't plan to place him on injured reserve. Rattler and Haener shared practice reps Wednesday, suggesting it's not a lock that Haener starts if Carr is inactive. Rattler made three starts in October while Carr recovered from an oblique injury, completing 59.6 percent of passes for 5.8 yards per attempt with one touchdown, four turnovers and 14 sacks as the Saints lost each game by at least 18 points. It would make sense to give Haener a shot now, but it's possible Rattler builds a case for himself in practice this week.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Emergency QB for Week 14
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Rattler will serve as the Saints' emergency quarterback for Week 14 behind starter Derek Carr and backup Jake Haener. Rattler will only see the field Sunday if both Carr and Haener were to leave the game due to injury.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Available as emergency QB
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams.
The 2024 fifth-round pick will serve as the emergency QB for the third straight game. Starter Derek Carr and backup Jake Haener would have to be injured and/or unavailable for Rattler to see action.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Healthy scratch Sunday
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game in Carolina.
After starting three contests in place of Derek Carr (oblique), Rattler will relinquish control of the offense to the former, while Jake Haener will serve as the backup quarterback. Rattler will only see action Week 9 if both Carr and Haener leave the contest due to injury.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Rattler (hip) practiced fully Wednesday.
Almost a week removed from sustaining a hip pointer last Thursday against the Broncos, Rattler was able to handle a full allotment of practice reps to begin Week 8 prep. His full workout comes on the heels of head coach Dennis Allen stating that Rattler likely will start Sunday's game at the Chargers, with Derek Carr still in recovery mode from an oblique injury, per Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune. Rattler thus should get the nod over fellow quarterback Jake Haener, after the former completed 47 of 75 passes for 415 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, recorded nine carries for 61 yards and fumbled three times (two lost) in his first two career starts.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Likely starting again Sunday
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Head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Rattler (hip) likely will be the Saints' starting quarterback Sunday at the Chargers, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Derek Carr, who has been sidelined the last two games due to an oblique injury, took part in throwing sessions Monday and Tuesday, which seemingly were helpful in determining where he stood in his recovery. As of Wednesday, Allen doesn't believe Carr will be ready for Week 8 action, setting Rattler up for a third start in a row. Rattler emerged from last Thursday's to the Broncos with a hip pointer, but the issue won't stop him from being available this weekend. In his first two career starts, the rookie fifth-round pick out of South Carolina has completed 47 of 75 passes for 415 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, rushed nine times for 61 yards and fumbled three times (two lost).
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Will start Week 8 if Carr can't go
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Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that Rattler (hip) will start Sunday's game against the Chargers if Derek Carr (oblique) remains sidelined, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Rattler was forced out of last Thursday's 33-10 loss to the Broncos late in the fourth quarter due to a hip pointer, but it doesn't sound like the injury is a real threat to keep him sidelined Week 8. Despite the rookie fifth-round pick's miserable performance versus Denver in which he logged just 4.9 yards per attempt and lost two fumbles, Rattler seems slated to retain a grip on the No. 1 role until such time as Carr is cleared to retake the field.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Impressive in NFL debut
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Rattler completed 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also rushed four times for 27 yards and fumbled once but recovered.
The rookie fifth-round pick did not look out of his element despite facing a veteran defense with aggressive tendencies. Rattler recorded his first touchdown pass via a 10-yard strike to Bub Means just before the midway point of the second quarter, and he continued battling throughout the game despite the game eventually getting away from New Orleans. Reports earlier Sunday indicated Derek Carr (oblique) could be down for up to four games, so Rattler projects for another start Thursday night at home against the Broncos.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Could start for injured Carr
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Rattler is viewed as a "strong candidate" to start Sunday against the Buccaneers with Derek Carr (oblique) expected to miss multiple games, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.
A rookie fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, Rattler has yet to make his NFL debut, and he's been inactive as the Saints' No. 3 quarterback behind Carr and Jake Haener through the team's first five games. Though it was Haener who entered in relief of Carr during Monday's 26-13 loss to Kansas City, the Saints may be inclined to turn the offense over to Rattler, who possesses strong arm talent but at times played recklessly during his five-year collegiate career. During his three preseason appearances, Rattler completed 20 of 38 pass attempts (52.6 percent) for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing seven times for 26 yards and one touchdown as well as a lost fumble.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Serving as No. 3 QB
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive ahead of Monday night's matchup against the Chiefs.
Rattler will serve as the Saints' emergency third quarterback for the fifth consecutive game Monday night. The 2024 fifth-round pick will be able to take the field only if both Derek Carr and Jake Haener sustain injuries.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Emergency option again
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Eagles, but he'll still suit up as the team's emergency third quarterback.
Rattler will once again be technically available as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Derek Carr and No. 2 Jake Haener. However, Rattler will only be able to enter the game if the other two quarterbacks get injured.
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Saints' Spencer Rattler: Available in emergency
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Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Panthers, but he'll still suit up as the team's emergency third quarterback.
Rattler was considered a co-backup with Jake Haener to Derek Carr, but it will be Haener officially handling the backup role in Week 1.
