Well, it finally happened. Following the benching of quarterback Spencer Rattler during Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints have named Tyler Shough their new starting quarterback.
Shough, a 2025 second-round draft pick, is a player that Saints fans have been calling for since the beginning of the season. However the team decided to wait eight weeks before answering those prayers.
His first start is set to be on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, and while that will be his first start, it won't be his first time seeing real NFL action. At times earlier this season, most recently against the Bucs, Shough has stepped onto the field. So far in his first season, he's completed 17 of his 32 pass attempts for 128 yards and one interception.
Saints QB Tyler Shough has been preparing behind the scenes
Just because he wasn't named the week one starter doesn't mean that New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough hasn't been working relentlessly to improve. "I'm preparing each week," he said to the media following Sunday's loss. "In my head, from every game since (not being named the starter), I was ready to go, and I gotta continue to be ready."
Shough isn't just saying that to say it. Since the start of the season, he has legitimately been putting in the work, playing with the scout team during practices. "It puts you in some challenging situations to help navigate; it stresses you in some of those situations," Kellen Moore said when asked about Shough and the scout team. "There's plenty of little components that you can develop on."
His own teammates are also able to see some growth. "I've seen him become more confident," Center Luke Forter said of the rookie. "I wasn't here during camp to see how that all played out, but these past few weeks he's been really confident, just going out there and making plays."