The New Orleans Saints will give quarterback Jake Haener his first NFL start on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, according to multiple media reports on Thursday night.
Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi was choosing between second-year player Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler to replace starter Derek Carr, who has not practiced this week because of a fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand and also a concussion.
The two reserves have been sharing reps at practice, and Rizzi confirmed that they are competing to start for the host Saints (5-8) against the Commanders (8-5).
“They’re both guys that throw the ball well, they’re both similar size guys, athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said this week. “There’ll be some nuances in the game plan, depending on which guy starts, naturally. … But it’s not going to be this wholesale deal.”
The Saints selected Haener in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He did not appear in a game last season.
Haener, 25, has played as a reserve in seven games this season and is 14 of 29 (48.3 percent) for 177 yards and one touchdown.
Rattler, 24, started all three games that he has played this season in place of the injured Carr (oblique) and was 59 of 99 (59.6 percent) for 571 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Saints lost all three games.
New Orleans drafted Rattler in the fifth round this year out of South Carolina.
Carr, 33, was injured when he tried to leap for a first down late in the final quarter of a 14-11 road win against the New York Giants on Sunday. He was near the sideline and went airborne, landing hard on the left hand with his face then slamming into the turf as he landed out of bounds with 3:59 left in the game.
Carr completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Haener finished up the game for the Saints.
Overall, Carr has passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
–Field Level Media
