The New Orleans Saints have made a surprising midseason move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL fraternity. According to reports, the team has benched rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler after a 1-7 start, making Shough the new starter. The decision was made as the team faced inconsistency in play and was in urgent need of a new plan.
Jul 28, 2025; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The Saints made this decision after their offense began to falter. The team’s offense, which once had decent numbers, now ranks 29th in scoring, so a new plan is inevitable. Through eight weeks, the 26-year-old Shough had 68% of his passes. Plus, he registered 1,625 yards, followed by five interceptions.
The crisis was evident during week 8’s defeat to the Bucs, where Rattler had a costly pick-six and struggled to sustain drives. It calls for Moore’s change in quarterback decisions. The head coach then put his faith in rookie Tyler Shough in the third quarter. Upon his arrival, Shough went 17-for-30 for 158 yards, showing enough composure and readiness to lead.
> Moore later praised [him](https://nypost.com/2025/10/28/sports/saints-bench-spencer-rattler-for-26-year-old-rookie-tyler-shough/), “_Tyler went in there and looked the part. He made some plays and brought energy to the offense. We need the spark, and he gives us that.”_
What’s more is that coach Kellen Moore plans to keep the rookie for the rest of the games, saying, “ **_Tyler starting today. We’re not looking back on that_**.
Saints have noticed maturation in Shough’s performance when he has operated for the scout team offense during practice, and Moore knows the benefit here.
> “_One of the best things that comes out of being a scout-team quarterback is that the pockets aren’t going to be ideal. You’re playing against your starting defense, and the goal in practice is to make the blitzes and everything look good, so you’re going to be in some challenging, compromised situations_, Moore said.
As a Head coach, Moore has to make this decision for the team’s best interest. He revealed a forward-looking mindset in crisis. Now Spencer will be in the spotlight of Moore and the team, and see what he brings to the table.