Saints make huge final decision on starting QB for rest of the season after battle between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough

After struggling across the first eight weeks of the NFL season, the New Orleans Saints are making a change at the starting quarterback position.

Tyler Shough, a 26-year-old rookie out of Louisville, has been named the Saints' starter for Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced the decision on Tuesday, which means that previous QB1 Spencer Rattler will take a backseat. 

Rattler was pulled in the middle of Sunday's game against the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in favor of Shough.

This will be Shough's first start in the NFL and his first start entirely since a game for Louisville against rival Kentucky on November 30, 2024.

In the game against the Bucs, Shough completed 17-of-30 passes for 128 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns. He had previously seen only some garbage-time action in a lopsided defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.

After the loss to Tampa Bay, Moore said he'd take 48 hours to decide who his starter would be. 

Rattler initially won the starting job over Shough in training camp, but has turned the ball over six times in the last two games. 

The Saints have been in dire straits in the post-Drew Brees era - combining for a record of 31-45 since the franchise's best-ever quarterback retired in 2020.

That includes a record of 5-12 last season and a 1-7 record so far this season.