Saints coach Kellen Moore not ready to name QB starter between Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough: 'It’s really, really close'

[Desmond Milligan 0]

Only one quarterback battle remains.

The Cleveland Browns named Joe Flacco their starter on Monday. The Indianapolis Colts announced Daniel Jones as theirs on Tuesday.

That leaves the New Orleans Saints, who are still deciding between second-year pro Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. Saints head coach Kellen Moore addressed the competition on Tuesday. He sounds no closer to making a decision than he was at the start of training camp.

“It’s close,” Moore told reporters Tuesday. “We look at every aspect of this quarterback situation. It’s really, really close. Numbers, experience reps, everything. It’s going all the way back to the start of training camp. Everything is very, very close between this group.”

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Moore's not only fielding question about the Saints quarterback from media. He says he gets them at home from his kids as well. Moore gives his kids the same answers he gives to reporters.

"There's a lot of people who like to ask about the quarterbacks, my kids included," Moore said. "It's a fun conversation.

"They've got advice about everything. Every bad decision, every throw, every play call. They've got it all."

Who will win the job?

So who's got the edge? That remains a mystery with one preseason game remaining on the schedule.

Rattler's more of a known commodity. The 2024 fifth-round pick started six games as a rookie last year, completing 57% of his passes for 188.1 yards per game with four touchdowns and five interceptions — not exactly inspiring starting quarterback stuff.

The Saints selected Shough in the second round of April's draft as the third quarterback off the board amid the then-uncertain future of quarterback Derek Carr. Both are now competing for the starting job following Carr's unexpected retirement due to a lingering shoulder injury.

Neither has done enough to win the job while splitting starts in New Orleans' first two preseason games.

How they'e looked

Rattler's completed 25 of 35 passes (71.4%) for 251 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. Shough's completed 24 of 34 passes (70.6%) for 231 yards (6.8 yards per attempt), also with one touchdown and one interception.

Each performed better as the backup quarterback while facing defensive competition deeper on the opponents' depth charts. As for who will start in Saturday's preseason finale against the Denver Broncos? Moore wasn't even ready to announce a starter for that game.

"We've got three days of practice and a game, so we've got some excellent work coming our way," Moore said.

As for when he'll make a decision? Moore answered, jokingly, that it will "hopefully" come before New Orleans' Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinaos.

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