The New Orleans Saints backup quarterback battle is the talk of the offseason and was viewed optimistically. However, it took a negative turn after their week two preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Both Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler disappointed, meaning the fight was murky with no one pulling away. Now, fans should be left wondering about the position behind Tyler Shough.
Wilson, who impressed in his first showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars, opened the game and played the entire first half. This was a massive opportunity to pull away from Rattler; however, he disappointed and was shut out, going 6/12 for 55 yards and one interception.
Following that, Rattler entered and finished the outing. But sadly, he didn’t fare any better, completing 14/23 passes for 141 yards and one interception (returned for a 100-yard pick-six).
Like Wilson, he was shut out, granted, he led the team to a promising look in a two-minute drill, but he still couldn’t find his rhythm. As a result, fans are left wondering who the backup will be and if they can run the offense.
The Saints' backup QB battle rages on after preseason disappointment
Regardless of Wilson and Rattler’s performances, this is still a tight battle that will continue through training camp and the next preseason game. Each of them had a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead in the race, but squandered it with a subpar outing. Because of this, it was a net-neutral result, meaning the Saints are in a similar situation to what they’ve been in.
That makes this week, and their upcoming preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, the deciding factor in picking Shough’s backup. Both Wilson and Rattler must forget and learn from this past week and focus entirely on winning the job.Â
The position battle will be decided by numerous factors. However, two of the most notable will be their ability to bounce back from adversity and stay turnover-free.
Wilson and Rattler struggled when faced with adversity, and both turned the ball over in key moments against the Rams. Their showing Kellen Moore and company that this was a fluke rather than a trend is pivotal to his decision.
It’s important not to overreact to the preseason, but this performance is jarring and shouldn’t make Saints fans feel optimistic about Tyler Shough’s backup. However, both Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler must move on and focus on this upcoming week.
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