Zach Wilson stepped onto the field Saturday for the Saints, airing it out for 145 yards and a touchdown, directly impacting the hotly contested No. 2 quarterback spot in New Orleans. With Tyler Shough firmly entrenched as the starter, the fight for his backup has just become a real barn burner, and Wilson’s play certainly made a statement.
Rattler’s Start, Wilson’s Spark
Spencer Rattler got the nod to start the game against the Jaguars, but things didn’t exactly light up. He went 8-of-11 for a pretty meager 42 yards and, worst of all, lost a fumble after getting sacked twice. Oof. While the team’s opening drive did end in a touchdown, it was set up perfectly on the Jacksonville 9-yard line and finished by an Audric Estime run. They managed to tack on a field goal with Rattler in, but it definitely felt like the offense was sputtering.
Then Wilson came in, and you could feel a shift. He immediately led two scoring drives in the second quarter, injecting some serious life into the offense. It wasn’t just a fluke, either. They kept moving the ball with Wilson at the helm in the third, though a missed field goal stopped them from adding even more points. He played with a fire that Rattler just couldn’t match, finishing the day 11-of-16 for those crucial 145 yards and a touchdown. That’s efficiency, people.
Wilson Steps Up and Speaks Out
You just knew after that kind of performance, Wilson was going to get grilled about the depth chart. And he didn’t shy away. When asked if he thought he made a case to jump ahead of Rattler, Wilson dropped some honest truth. “I don’t think about it like that,” he said, which, sure, we all say that. But then he followed up with the real juice: “Obviously I’m here to compete. I would love to be the two, I would love to find my way up there. That’s why I chose to come here, to have an opportunity to compete, but it’s out of my control.” He also reminded everyone, “I’m still young, but I feel like I’ve been able to play in a lot of games and see a lot of different things.” That’s a guy who’s hungry and ready to earn his spot.
So, what’s next for the Saints? With Wilson making such a strong push and clearly stating his intentions, this isn’t just a quiet backup battle anymore. He came to New Orleans for a reason, and he’s showing why he’s worth the shot. The coaching staff has a real decision on their hands before the regular season kicks off, and it’s going to be interesting to see who ends up as the primary backup to Shough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply