Man, you gotta feel for the New Orleans Saints right now. Their backup quarterback battle, which was supposed to get some serious clarity, just got a whole lot murkier after Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. We’re talking about a situation that was already tight, with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler both vying for that crucial QB2 spot behind Tyler Shough. Instead of one guy taking the reins, we saw two brutal turnovers, culminating in a soul-crushing 100-yard pick six from Rattler. It was a gut punch that didn’t just stop a potential score, it absolutely torpedoed any momentum the Saints might have been building.
Zach Wilson’s Momentum Disappears in a 20-0 Half
Zach Wilson got the start, stepping in while Shough and a bunch of other Saints starters sat out after those joint practices with the Rams. Remember how Wilson looked impressive in his preseason debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars? Well, any momentum from that game just evaporated. He completed just 6-of-12 passes for a measly 55 yards, tossing an interception in the first half. That pick came when he tried to push the ball deep, marking his first turnover of the preseason. What happened to the guy who looked so good a week ago? He looked out of sync, and the Saints went into halftime trailing a dismal 20-0. That’s a rough look for a guy trying to solidify his spot, especially when you’re fighting for a job. It’s hard to ignore a performance that leaves you goose-egged at the break.
Rattler’s Red Zone Nightmare Was a 100-Yard Gut Punch
Then came Spencer Rattler in the second half, the 2024 fifth-round pick, looking to turn the tide. He drove the Saints down the field, getting them right into the red zone, threatening to *finally* put some points on the board. You’re thinking, “Okay, here’s their chance, here’s Rattler’s moment to shine.” And then, disaster struck. His pass was intercepted in the end zone by Alex Cook, who then took it a staggering 100 yards all the way back for a touchdown. A 100-yard pick six! Man, that’s just brutal, flat-out brutal. It wasn’t just a turnover, it was an “especially damaging swing,” as the source called it, wiping away any hope of a score and handing the Rams another seven points. You go from sniffing the end zone to watching the other team celebrate. That play alone changes the whole narrative for Rattler’s performance.
Unsettled and Full of Questions
So, where does this leave the Saints in their backup QB competition? Head coach Kellen Moore said before Saturday’s game that both QBs had been playing well. Yeah, well, that was *before* Saturday night. These two turnovers,Wilson’s early pick and Rattler’s soul-crushing 100-yarder,just add another huge wrinkle to an already close battle. It’s an “unsettled” situation, plain and simple. They still have time before the initial 53-man roster deadline, sure. But how do you weigh these mistakes? Does one guy get a pass? Does the other fall out of favor completely? The pressure is absolutely on for both Wilson and Rattler. The Saints need some serious answers, and they need them fast. This backup QB spot is still wide open, and the next few weeks are going to be critical to see who, if anyone, steps up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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