New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener (3) walks off the field with offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier in the background, after a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The [New Orleans Saints](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/809c5fd4-91fe-43b2-8c8a-1fa99c763a98/) won't have a designated emergency quarterback on Sunday.
The Saints released quarterback Jake Haener to sign rookie defensive end Fadil Diggs from the practice squad, the team announced Saturday. New Orleans also elevated tight end Jack Stoll and defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals.
In releasing Haener, the Saints now only have two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster — meaning they won't be able to take advantage of the NFL's emergency quarterback rule, which allowed for teams to dress an inactive third quarterback and play him if the others became injured.
But New Orleans was seemingly comfortable with that trade-off as defensive end Chase Young was ruled out with a calf injury.
Haener was released for the second time in recent weeks. The 2023 fourth-rounder was cut when the Saints narrowed their roster from 90 to 53 players, but was signed to the practice squad. He was then signed back to the active roster after the Saints surprisingly released safety J.T. Gray on Monday.
By signing Diggs, the Saints added another pass rusher to the fold and promoted the seventh-rounder that they drafted in April. Diggs did not make the team's initial 53-man roster, but showed flashes in training camp.
The Saints' elevation of Stoll, meanwhile, gives the team now three tight ends on Sunday.