Saints' Kellen Moore commits to Tyler Shough as rest-of-season starter

The New Orleans Saints are 1-7 and are coming off a tough 23-3 loss to the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But, during the loss, the Saints got their first glimpse at rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough.

The 26-year-old rookie quarterback got his first chance in the NFL, and while he didn't perform exceptionally well, he wasn't bad either. At the start of the following week, Kellen Moore named Shough the starter for Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams.

And now, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Moore further revealed that not only is Shough the starter in Week 9, but he's going to be the starter for the rest of the season.

The Saints commit to Tyler Shough as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season

"Saints HC Kellen Moore told reporters that the team plans to start rookie QB Tyler Shough for the remainder of the season," Schefter reports.

Saints HC Kellen Moore told reporters that the team plans to start rookie QB Tyler Shough for the remainder of the season. pic.twitter.com/6JOQIOpBJm

In Shough's first NFL action, he has 17 completions on 30 passing attempts for 128 yards and one interception. He also added 12 yards on three rushes in the loss to the Buccaneers.

Shough takes over for Spencer Rattler, who, while he struggled in the last two weeks, wasn't a bad starter for the Saints this season.

Against the Buccaneers before he was benched, Rattler went 15 of 21 for 136 yards and one interception returned for a touchdown. The week before the Chicago Bears, Rattler went 20 of 32 for 233 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and one fumble.

More: Why Saints benched Spencer Rattler for Tyler Shough in QB decision

But after Shough was named the starter for the rest of the season, Rattler, barring injury, will finish the 2025 season as a starter with 1,586 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The 25-year-old in his second NFL season showed some promise, enough that, at worst, he could be a strong offseason trade candidate for a team looking for a cheap, young quarterback.

For the Saints, Shough takes over for a 1-7 team in Moore's first season as head coach. Drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 26-year-old out of Louisville will get his first start against a strong Rams defense before he starts the final nine games of the season for New Orleans.

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