The New Orleans Saints are making a change at quarterback.
Saints rookie Tyler Shough will make his first career start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday.
Second-year pro Spencer Rattler, who started the first eight games of the season for New Orleans, will head to the bench after he was pulled during Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Saints drafted Shough No. 40 overall in April with the hope that the now-26-year-old signal-caller could parlay his college experience into a potential franchise role.
At 6-foot-5, 219 pounds, Shough boasts prototypical NFL size and tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash. Questions about his age after spending seven seasons in college and his past injury history clouded his pre-draft evaluation, but a strong 2024 campaign at Louisville helped turn him into a Day 2 selection.
Shough and Rattler were part of a three-man QB battle -- along with Jake Haener -- during training camp that ended with Rattler being named QB1 at the end of August.
Rattler, who started six games as a rookie last season, flashed some during the first half of the season, but his struggles the past two weeks (four interceptions including a pick-six) were enough to prompt first-year head coach Kellen Moore to see what he has in Shough.
Shough failed to lead the Saints on a scoring drive when he replaced Rattler on Sunday against a tough Bucs defense, but he moved the ball somewhat, finishing 17 of 30 for 128 yards and one interception.
