Don’t look now, but the New Orleans Saints just pulled a major power move on the NFL world. In anticipation of their Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, they’ve officially declared Tyler Shough as their starter. This move comes after a series of underwhelming performances from Spencer Rattler. He was later announced as the starter before the start of his rookie NFL regular season in 2025. Head Coach Kellen Moore, who had previously sought to avoid controversies between the two quarterbacks, acknowledged that the decision was made based on performance and the need to improve the struggling offense.
Here we are, approaching Week 8 of this NFL season, with the Saints shrouded in questions. They’ve committed 12 turnovers, which puts them second behind only the Tennessee Titans in giving the ball away. Rattler’s early-season performance was impressive, and Rattler certainly had starting quarterback written all over him. On all three recent starts, he’s missed the mark, coming in underwhelming. In his first six games, he had just one turnover. He turned the ball over six times in just six quarters.
Moore wasn’t interested in entertaining an in-season quarterback controversy. He conceded that Rattler’s struggles of late have opened the door for Shough. “All we’re trying to do is put ourselves in the best position to be successful on Sunday against L.A.,” Moore stated. He elaborated that he would look at every aspect of the floundering offense and decide quickly.
“We’re not getting into this QB debate throughout this season.” – Kellen Moore
As someone who was picked up by the Saints with the 40th overall pick in the 2025 draft, he had spent years waiting for his chance. When he came in during last week’s game, star players Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill were there to support him. They attempted to run the ball four times. Total rushing yards for the entire game was 12. Shough demonstrated confidence during his brief appearance, stating, “No nerves. I think preparation-wise, body-wise, I was feeling good, so just was going out there and doing everything I can.”
Rattler admitted he was surprised he would be benched, but acknowledged the need to make a change. “I mean I just go at it the same way. It’s part of the game. I’ve been through adversity before,” he remarked. He knows how cutthroat the world of football is. His determination to remain ready for the next opportunity is evident in this quote.
The Saints still have the worst record in the league, tied with the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets. That disappointing scenario has led Moore to make a move to jumpstart his team’s season. Shough’s emergence as a starter signals the depth of desperation for the squad. Beyond that, it gives them a long look at the quarterback depth as they get ready for April’s NFL draft.
“Spencer is our starting quarterback. Tyler’s going to keep developing. You need a couple quarterbacks in-season. It’s a long NFL season…” – Kellen Moore
Shough, meanwhile, is making his debut as the full-time starting quarterback. With each half-inning of each game this season, fans and management alike will watch his stats like hawks. An extended look at Shough over these next nine games is anticipated to clarify what potential the Saints may have within their quarterback room moving forward.
It’s something Moore has never shied from admitting — he wants to have three or four quarterbacks ready to step in during a grueling, lengthy season. The move to Shough isn’t an indictment of Rattler’s ability. It’s a smart play to spark a squad that has found it hard to catch fire all types of momentum.
All the attention will be on Shough as he prepares for 2-0 Colorado State. This transformative power dynamic might not just decide his career, they might decide the Saints’ quarterbacking future for the long haul. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but Shough is poised to break through to the fore. In the meantime, Rattler’s keeping his cool and preparing to reclaim his spot at the first given chance.
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