The New Orleans Saints have a big decision to make. Starting quarterback Derek Carr went down with a broken hand in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants, and if he can’t play next week against the Washington Commanders, one of his backups will step in.
The question is whether it would be Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi told reporters Monday afternoon it’ll be decision he makes with input from the offensive coaching staff, but that Rattler won’t be starting just because that’s who got the nod last time.
“I think this is new ground, if you will, so we’re going to press the reset button here, it’s a clean slate, and make a decision,” Rizzi said. “Again I’m not ruling Derek out, and I’m not declaring a starter just yet. We’re going to kind of put it all on the table and see what we feel. But I think both guys, I go back there purposefully with the look squad every week, and Jake and Spencer both have really done a great job at practice. So I think both guys bring positivity to the table.”
Rizzi previously said that Carr won’t be going on injured reserve, and the team is exploring all options to see if he can continue to play through injury. But he’s also working his way through the NFL concussion protocol and there’s a good chance he won’t be cleared in time for next Sunday’s game. So Rizzi plans to choose either Rattler or Haener soon.
He was asked whether the typical gameday arrangement with Haener being the active backup behind Carr and Rattler inactive as an emergency third quarterback suggested Haener was ahead, but Rizzi downplayed that notion: “That’s been the case the entire season. He’s been the number two in every game we played whether Derek or Spencer was the starter. We felt like, the offensive staff felt like, that was the (best) situation.”
While it’s possible Carr’s situation could change drastically enough in the next 24 hours that he’s cleared to start in this week’s matchup, odds are either Rattler or Haener will be leading the first-team offense when the Saints kick off their next practice on Wednesday.
“I’m not trying to be a fence-sitter here,” Rizzi continued. “I think both guys give us a chance to win.”
