New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore gives instructions during training camp in Metairie on Sunday, August 3, 2025. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE
**IRVINE, Calif. —** Kellen Moore has made a decision on his [starting quarterback](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/3575ba3d-4d33-406e-bf0d-50b27e03cea1/) — for the first preseason game, anyway.
The New Orleans Saints coach said Spencer Rattler will start Sunday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The decision reflects how the Saints have practiced of late, with Rattler getting a good dose of reps with the the first team.
But Moore’s decision was also based on the type of camp that Rattler is having. The second-year signal caller has been the most decisive of the three quarterbacks in contention for the starting job, and coaches have highlighted Rattler’s mobility as another standout.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long Moore intends to play Rattler with the starters, or whether rookie Tyler Shough will also get an opportunity to play with the first team in Sunday’s game. Moore indicated previously that he planned to sit several veterans in the exhibition, including star running back Alvin Kamara.
Resting Kamara, which Moore said was done because the team knows what the 30-year-old can bring, will free up the Saints to evaluate their other backs in what has been a crowded competition. Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and others are competing to be Kamara’s backup, and Moore indicated the team will likely keep only three or four running backs on the roster.
As for the quarterback competition, Moore has said the preseason will be a crucial step in the team’s overall evaluation process. It was at this point last year that Rattler made serious gains in New Orleans’ backup quarterback competition in part because of how he performed in the preseason compared to Jake Haener. While Haener was initially Derek Carr’s backup to start the season, the Saints then turned to Rattler when Carr went down with injuries.
Complicating matters, the Saints did not line up joint practices against another team — which usually tends to affect reps in the following preseason game. Teams will usually rest most of their starters if they feel like they got a good amount of work during joint practices. In lieu of a joint practice, the Saints opted for an intrasquad scrimmage Friday, albeit a lighter one than last Sunday’s intense 126-play practice.
Last year, the Saints played their starters for only nine snaps — good for two drives — in their preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
But the circumstances have changed. The Saints have a new coaching staff, and more importantly, a quarterback competition in which every rep is valuable.