By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – While some teams will be getting a look at their starters in their final preseason games, the New Orleans Saints are going another direction. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, the Saints will be resting a “significant number of starters” including starting quarterback Derek Carr.
Underhill also notes that the team will be playing both backup passers, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, for two quarters each. That should give the Saints a ton of information as their decision on the primary backup quarterback spot looms large.
Last week, Rattler took the majority of his snaps in the first half while Haener entered the game in the third quarter to finish things out. That makes it likely that Haener will earn the start this weekend while Rattler gets a chance to relive his Game 1 heroics by closing out the game.
While a larger portion of the starters are not expected to participate, some certainly could benefit from some additional playing time. On the offensive line, rookie tackle Taliese Fuaga missed last week’s matchup with the San Francisco 49ers making this game against the Tennessee Titans a valuable one for him. Getting more in-game experience ahead of the regular season is important.
Meanwhile, right tackle Trevor Penning could get some reps as well. Last year he struggled Week 1 against the Titans’ edge rushers Harold Landry and Arden Key. Should either be available to participate this weekend, it would be a one-to-one litmus test to see how Penning’s progress is going. The Titans are intending to give their starters time in this matchup, per Pro Football Focus.
Other starters may also simply have to play due to the numbers at their positions. But it is likely that any starters given time may see limited action.
The big story in this game will be the performances of Haener and Rattler. It looks like there will be a lot of information on the way that could have major implications for the ongoing competition.
