Rookie QB Spencer Rattler will start for Saints vs. Buccaneers on Sunday in place of the injured Derek Carr

Rattler has yet to appear in a regular-season game, but performed well in the preseason (20 of 38, 202 yards, one touchdown) to have Saints fans talking quietly about his potential. Now that Carr has suffered an oblique injury that will likely sideline him for several weeks, New Orleans decides to take a look at Rattler, whom they prefer over backup Jake Haener. When Carr was injured in the Saints' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, Haener came into the game while Rattler was the third quarterback in an emergency. Now he will be QB1.

Rattler, a former five-star prospect out of Arizona, began his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina after losing his starting job to Caleb Williams. He left Columbia having completed 67.5% of his passes for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, but did not attract much attention in a QB-filled 2024 draft class, leading to his selection in the fifth round (overall 150.).

With Drake Maye set to make his first start for New England on Sunday, Rattler and Maye will be the fourth and fifth rookie quarterbacks to start the 2024 season. However, Rattler will be the first rookie quarterback selected outside of the first round.