The New Orleans Saints head into Week 2 of the NFL preseason with plenty of position battles going on around their roster. At the quarterback position, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler are locked into one of the most intriguing pieces of the Saints preseason.
Both quarterbacks had bright spots against the Arizona Cardinals, but Rattler's calmness and athleticism stole the show in a big way for the rookie. Saints fans and football analysts alike took notice.
Saints QB Spencer Rattler named preseason standout after first NFL game
Via The 33rd Team, Rattler got some national media props on Monday, following the Saints' win in their preseason opener. Rattler played a key role in that victory with a rushing touchdown.
Rattler went 9/17 for 70 passing yards, along with 8 rushing yards and a TD. He looked composed in the pocket and could have had a couple more downfield completions if his receivers helped him out a bit more. He also had a great throw on a pass interference call.
In his performance, Rattler displayed his physical upside, both through the air and on the ground.
He wasn't afraid of contact, but he also knew how to maneuver well away from pressure. The offense must be sharper going forward, but there was a lot of positive to take away for the rookie gunslinger.
Overall, he was sharp with room to grow. After the game, his professionalism took center stage, too.
Rattler was glad they finished strong but expects improvements going forward. They left meat on the bone on the offensive side.
Rattler played half of the game for the Saints. Expect a similar workload for both he and Jake Haener this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers.
Rattler needs to keep a hot hand to continue putting pressure on Haener as the team's backup. That battle isn't decided quite yet.
