After a difficult 1-7 start and Spencer Rattler’s struggles, the New Orleans Saints are handing the reins to second-round rookie Tyler Shough, a move that redefines the team’s trajectory for the remainder of the 2025 season.
The New Orleans Saints are making a significant change at quarterback, naming rookie Tyler Shough their starter for the upcoming Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams. This decision, widely reported by NFL insiders including Ian Rapoport, marks a pivotal moment for a Saints team currently struggling with a 1-7 record in the 2025 season.
The news was confirmed by multiple sources, with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport stating that the Saints are making Tyler Shough their starting quarterback. Coach Kellen Moore reportedly informed the team of the decision, moving Spencer Rattler to the bench. This shift comes after Moore took 48 hours to evaluate the team’s offensive woes following their Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as detailed by Ian Rapoport.
The End of the Spencer Rattler Experiment (For Now)
Spencer Rattler, a second-year quarterback and former fifth-round pick, had won the starting job over Shough during an extended training camp battle. However, his tenure has been marked by significant struggles, culminating in his benching midway through the Buccaneers game. In eight starts this season, Rattler threw for 1,586 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions, completing 68.0 percent of his passes. Crucially, the team’s record under his leadership stands at a dismal 1-13 in 14 career starts, including filling in for an injured Derek Carr last season.
Rattler’s recent performance was particularly concerning. In his last two games against the Chicago Bears and the Buccaneers, he accumulated six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles) and was sacked seven times in just six quarters of play. Coach Moore cited a need for an “offensive spark” when making the change, a sentiment many fans can understand given the team’s struggles to consistently move the ball and score points, as reported by USA TODAY Sports.
Tyler Shough: From Journeyman to Day 1 Starter
Tyler Shough’s journey to becoming an NFL starter has been anything but conventional. Drafted 40th overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Louisville, he was the third overall quarterback taken and the first on Day 2. His selection by the Saints was a moment of relief, as he had extensive meetings with other teams like the Cleveland Browns before landing in New Orleans.
An “older rookie” at 26 years old, Shough’s collegiate career was a winding path that took him from Oregon (where he backed up Justin Herbert) to Texas Tech and finally Louisville. Despite his age and a history of injuries—two separate collarbone injuries and a broken leg—he showcased immense talent, particularly in his 2024 season at Louisville, where he threw for 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Coach Kellen Moore has expressed confidence in Shough’s abilities, highlighting his “great rhythm, anticipation,” and ability to “hit all marks of the field from a throwing perspective.” Moore views Shough’s extensive experience at different collegiate systems as a positive, suggesting it has made him “comfortable and flexible.” Shough’s physical tools, including a 6-foot-5, 219-pound frame and a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, also align with prototypical NFL quarterback traits.
In his limited action relieving Rattler in Week 8, Shough completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and one interception. While the interception was unfortunate, his overall composure and ability to make plays earned him the nod from Coach Moore.
A Franchise in Search of Stability
The Saints’ decision to elevate Tyler Shough is also a reflection of the franchise’s ongoing search for quarterback stability since the retirement of legendary Drew Brees after the 2020 season. Since then, eight different players have started games under center for New Orleans, a clear indicator of the challenges they’ve faced. Shough is the first quarterback selected by the Saints in the first two rounds of the common draft since Archie Manning in 1971, underscoring the team’s significant investment and hope in his potential.
With Derek Carr’s status uncertain due to a shoulder injury, the Saints had a glaring need at quarterback leading up to the 2025 draft. Shough joined a quarterback room that included Rattler, 2023 third-rounder Jake Haener, and veteran Ben DiNucci, but his second-round draft capital always suggested a strong potential for him to take the helm.
Fan Expectations and the Road Ahead
For the passionate Saints fanbase, Tyler Shough’s promotion brings a mix of hope and trepidation. The “what-if” scenarios surrounding a promising rookie quarterback are always a central topic in fan communities, especially for a team in a rebuilding phase. Many will be looking for signs of development and a potential long-term solution at the most critical position on the field.
The oddsmakers have already reacted to the change. The Saints, currently 1-7, opened as 13.5-point underdogs against the 5-2 Los Angeles Rams, but that line has shifted slightly to New Orleans +14 with Shough named starter. DraftKings sets the Saints at a hefty +600 to win their second game of the season. This reflects the uncertainty and low expectations surrounding Shough’s debut, but also the potential for a fresh spark.
Shough also enters his first start at +7500 in the odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, a long shot given the strong seasons from other rookies like Jaxson Dart (+105) and Emeka Egbuka (+140) as the season approaches the halfway point. Nevertheless, this opportunity allows him to finally show his NFL-caliber traits on a consistent basis.
The Saints are desperately seeking a change of fortune, and Tyler Shough now carries the hopes of a franchise looking to turn the page. His performance in Week 9 and beyond will be under intense scrutiny, shaping not only his future but potentially the direction of the New Orleans Saints for years to come.
