The New Orleans Saints don’t have a starting quarterback just yet, but head coach Kellen Moore doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to pick one.
“It’s really, really close — numbers, experiences, reps, everything,” Moore said Tuesday, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “We’ll see how it all plays out.”
The competition has stayed razor-thin, both on the and off field. Rattler delivered the flashiest moment of the preseason, rallying the Saints late against Jacksonville with a 20-yard strike to Dante Pettis before scrambling in for the tying two-point conversion. “Just the way we finished was exciting,” Rattler said after the game via the Associated Press’s Brett Martel. “Got-to-have-it type moments and to bring it to life out there on the field, especially in the Superdome, was fun.”
Shough countered with a steadier showing in his first preseason start. The rookie went 9 of 12 without a turnover, managing the offense despite a collapsing pocket. “I felt really comfortable,” Shough said after the same game. “We had some balls that didn’t bounce our way sometimes, but that’s part of it.”
The Saints’ depth chart has reflected that razor-thin margin, with Rattler currently listed first and Shough second. Both delivered a mixed bag this past weekend, leaving this Saturday’s preseason finale against Denver as the last chance to make a statement.
Moore has acknowledged the need to make a call but is still undecided. “Hopefully before [the Sept. 7 opener against Arizona],” he joked. “I think both these guys are putting in tremendous effort, tremendous work. They’re both doing a ton of good things, so we’ll see how it goes.”
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Nationally, the uncertainty has drawn sharp criticism. CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell described the situation as “a little bit of a disaster” and questioned whether either player is ready to lead the franchise. Moore brushed off the outside noise, saying in Tuesday’s presser that, “We’re not hiding anything, guys, don’t worry. Once we make that decision, they’ll know.”
With one preseason game left, the Saints’ decision will hinge on which quarterback can build trust not just with coaches, but with the locker room. Until then, New Orleans remains in quarterback limbo. Their final audition could come this Saturday, when the Saints host the Denver Broncos at 1 p.m. ET in the Caesars Superdome.
