Aug 10, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Caleb Murphy (50) forces a fumble by New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It’s too early to call anything when it comes to the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback battle. But after weeks of second-year passer Spencer Rattler holding what felt like a commanding lead on rookie Tyler Shough, the past eight days have allowed the second-round selection a chance to narrow the gulf between them.
After Sunday’s first preseason game, he looks to have taken that chance and made good on it.
Eight days ago, the Saints held a 126-play scrimmage. During that exhilarating practice, Shough had one of his best days. He led a touchdown drive to open up his work and saw a total of eight drives in the 18-drive workload.
Since then, he’s stacked some positive days including a strong practice for both he and Rattler to wrap up game prep for the preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Shough then impressed in SoFi Stadium with a 54-yard deep ball to wide receiver Mason Tipton for the team’s only touchdown of the day. He also led a field goal drive by executing a two-minute drill at the end of the first half.
Shough it. Tipton down there somewhere.
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS! 🙌
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Cbg4XqVQkr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 10, 2025
Rattler had a positive day as well, completing seven of his 11 passing attempts while facing pressure on more than 35 percent of his dropbacks.
The bottom line is that both players had ups and downs on Sunday. Shough’s were far more aggressive swings to either direction while Rattler’s were a bit closer to center.
The “winner” of Sunday’s first preseason game comes down to what will be valued most. More steady, down-the-middle play or wider swings of great throws mirrored by a pick-six that went the other way in favor of Los Angeles.
“There’s going to be some good moments,” head coach Kellen Moore said of his quarterbacks. “There’s going to be some moments you want to have back. We get to learn from those, get better this week. I thought (Spencer Rattler) did some good stuff coming out of there, using his feet in some situations … He was able to make some plays out of it. … Tyler played a little bit more just between the second and third quarter, a great two-minute drive right before the half. He did some really good things there.”
Neither passer likely played the way they wanted to on Sunday. But they have laid their foundations for next week’s preseason game. If either comes out swinging and hitting next week, the starting job could go in either direction.
The good news for New Orleans is that neither quarterback is losing the job, it’s just that one will win it. And that’s a much better place to be as an organization with a room of young passers than to be handing the job over by default.
Shough narrowed the gap on Sunday. It wasn’t because Rattler struggled or did anything to impact himself negatively. Instead, the space between them strictly closes because the rookie offered a glimpse of what he can be in the NFL. For better or for worse.
