After being demoted to the back up role midway through the 2025 season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler entered the 2026 preseason needing to make a statement and solidify his role as the team’s backup. His first opportunity came in the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rattler got the start and completed 8-of-11 passes for 42 yards, while taking two sacks. Although he didn’t play poorly, his performance didn’t do much to move the needle in the Saints backup quarterback competition. If things don’t change quickly, his spot as the Saints backup could be in jeopardy.
Rattler’s production continues to leave you craving more. He has shown he can be good enough not to lose games but hasn’t shown he hasn’t shown enough to win them. His 3.8 yards per attempt against Jacksonville remains a concern.
Spencer Rattler is opening the door for Zach Wilson to push for QB2
New Orleans Saints third string quarterback and former first-round pick Zach Wilson has experienced a significant fall from grace since being selected with the 2nd overall pick by the New York Jets in 2021. Wilson started 33 games for them for the Jets before spending time with the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins both as both a backup and third string quarterback.
Not only is it important for Wilson to have a strong preseason to keep a job in the league but he also has a solid chance to take over as the Saints backup quarterback. So far Wilson is making the most of that opportunity.
There was a clear difference in how the offense moved with each quarterback. The offense was much more efficient with Wilson, and he brought a different element to the unit. In three possessions Wilson put the team in scoring position every time resulting in a touchdown, field goal, and a missed field goal.
Wilson finished the day 11-of-16 for 145 yards, and a touchdown. At 27 years old he made a strong case for himself, making the backup quarterback competition very interesting moving forward. It could be the start of a much needed career resurgence for him.
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