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The New Orleans Saints are shaking things up at quarterback as the trade deadline looms across the NFL. After eight starts from rookie Spencer Rattler, head coach Kellen Moore has decided to hand the offense to Tyler Shough ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaking publicly for the first time since being named the starter, Shough shared that the first person he called after hearing the news was his wife. Her blunt, competitive reaction quickly went viral.
“Yeah, it was my wife, for sure,” Shough said. “She’s been such a huge role in this... She was like, ‘Good, go out there and win.’ Not really satisfied with anything. Neither am I.”
The second-round pick acknowledged that he’s proud of how far he’s come but knows there’s still plenty to prove.
“It was a good feeling,” he said. “But... it’s just another step and we have to go out there and win because I could’ve done a better job in the (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) game.”
This Sunday will mark Shough’s first NFL start and his first start since Nov. 30, 2024, when he was still playing for Louisville.
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Saints’ QB change signals a new direction under Kellen Moore
When Moore took over as head coach, he made it clear he didn’t want constant quarterback debates.
“We’re not getting into this QB debate throughout this season,” he said in August when naming Rattler the starter.
But after an offensive collapse that left the Saints at 1-7 and among the league’s worst in scoring and turnovers, Moore felt a switch was necessary.
Over the past two weeks, Rattler turned the ball over six times in six quarters, compared to just one in the first six games. Those errors led to multiple opponent scores and ultimately opened the door for Shough.
Moore admitted after Sunday’s 23-3 loss to Tampa Bay that he was “trying to generate a spark” for an offense ranked 27th in yards and 29th in points.
Now, with nine games left, the Saints are giving Shough a full audition. The rookie has spent most of the season running the scout team but said he’s “felt really, really ready to go.”
With New Orleans currently tied with the Titans and Jets for the NFL’s worst record, Moore said his only goal is simple: “All we’re trying to do is put ourselves in the best position to be successful on Sunday against L.A.”
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