Report: Saints Name Jake Haener Starter Against Commanders

In the week’s most highly-anticipated news, the New Orleans Saints have reportedly chosen their starting quarterback for their Week 15 bout with the Washington Commanders.

Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi has informed the quarterbacks that Haener will be the starter this weekend.

The news comes on the heels of a week in which the team’s top quarterback Derek Carr suffered not only a serious left hand injury, but is also in concussion protocol. Carr tried to leap for a first down in last week’s game against the New York Giants, and landed hard on the turf. He was then taken to the injury tent and evaluated before being escorted off the field and into the locker room.

Speculation all week has been that Haener would be the chosen young passer to take over the reins this week. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler got a shot earlier in the season with three starts between Week 6 and Week 8. 

Haener will now get the chance to showcase his skill set in his first career start. He has gotten looks and opportunities in the preseason as well in the second halves of games. But this will be the first time that he gets a chance to fully prepare and execute a game plan as the team’s top option throughout the week.

New Orleans said that it would allow both young signal callers to compete throughout the practices and make a decision late in the week, but this has felt like a foregone conclusion for some time.

Haener was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In his seven game appearances so far, he has completed 48.3% of his passes for 177 passing yards with one touchdown pass and no interceptions thrown.