Assume that Spencer Rattler is going to get the start
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who was injured late in the game two weeks ago, underwent tests on his non-throwing hand that claim that he’s “at least a few weeks” from returning to the field. This means that he’s going to be sidelined against the Green Bay Packers when the Saints take a trip to Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football this week.
It was always a longshot that Carr was going to return against Green Bay, considering the reporting on his injury stated that he fractured his left hand, but now you can officially count him out against facing the Packers.
Without Carr against the Washington Commanders, the Saints started second-year fourth-round pick Jake Haener last Sunday, only to bench him for fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler mid-game. Rattler performed significantly better than Haener, as Rattler entered the game with a 17-0 deficit coming out of halftime and nearly led the Saints to victory. The final play of the game was a touchdown pass from Rattler that set up a two-point conversion. The ball went off his target’s hand on the conversion attempt and the Commanders ultimately survived with a 20-19 win.
With that being said, it’s not like Rattler has been a star this year. In the four games where Rattler has played — three starts and relief for Haener last week — New Orleans has posted a 0-4 record. In total, the Saints have been outscored 130-64 in those matches, an average loss of 16.5 points.
For their careers, Haener has posted a passer rating of 62.6 and Rattle has a mark of 73.1. Without Taysom Hill, who is on the injured reserve, New Orleans has limited options to pick from in their quarterback room. Things got so desperate last week that Cedrick Wilson, a former high school quarterback who converted to receiver at the junior college level, threw a pass from the warning stripe of the red zone last week.