The third and final preseason game of 2024 for the New Orleans Saints turned into a showcase for the two quarterbacks battling to be Derek Carr's backup.
Second-year pro Jake Haener got the start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans at the Caesars Superdome and played in the first and third quarters (and parts of the fourth) while rookie Spencer Rattler played in the second and some of the fourth as the Saints lost to the Titans 30-27 to finish 1-2 in the preseason.
Haener, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder out of Fresno State, was eight of 17 for 87 yards. With 1:10 to play and the Saints down three Haener entered and hit Stanley Morgan Jr. with a 19-yard completion and had a nice scramble before the game ended on an incompletion.
Rattler, a 6-0, 211-pounder out of South Carolina, was seven of 13 for 105 yards with a 21-yard touchdown pass to to Equanimeous St. Brown with 9:49 to play in the second quarter. He also threw a nice deep ball to A.T. Perry for 43 yards to set up Jacob Kibodi's 2-yard touchdown run with 6:26 to play. Several other of his passes were dropped.
The Saints' two tackles also got an extended look with first-round pick Taliese Fuaga playing the first two series and right tackle Trevor Penning playing into the second quarter. Jordan Mims and Kibodi got extended action at running back with Mims carrying five times for 33 yards while Kibodi had 12 carries for 59 yards and an 11-yard touchdown run to go along with his 2-yard score.
Blake Grupe took all the reps at kicker for the first three quarters and made two field goals, including a 54-yarder in the first half.
The Titans played most of their starters, including quarterback Will Levis, and quickly scored 10 points on the Saints' backup defense. These were the defensive starters for the Saints: defensive end Payton Turner, defensive tackle Kendal Vickers, defensive tackle Khristian Boyd, defensive end Isaiah Foskey, linebacker Anfernee Orji, linebacker Mike Rose, linebacker Khaleke Hudson, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, cornerback Rejzohn Wright, safety Will Harris and safety Jordan Howden.
The first half ended on a crazy play as receiver Samson Nacua fielded a 58-yard field-goal attempt and returned it 106 yards before getting knocked out of bounds at the 3-yard line.
A number of the Saints' top players were give the game off including: cornerback Paulson Adebo, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, quarterback Derek Carr, linebacker Demario Davis, linebacker Willie Gay, defensive end Carl Granderson, Taysom Hill, running back Alvin Kamara, safety Tyrann Mathieu, center Erik McCoy, tight end Foster Moreau, guard Lucas Patrick, guard Cesar Ruiz, defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, cornerback Alontae Taylor, linebacker Pete Werner, receiver Cedrick Wilson, and defensive end Chase Young.
These players missed the game because of injury: cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip), cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (knee), guard Nick Saldiveri (calf), running back Kendre Miller (hamstring), receiver Rashid Shaheed (toe/foot), receiver Mason Tipton (hamstring), tight end Kevin Rader (undisclosed), linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring), linebacker D'Marco Jackson (calf), linebacker, Isaiah Stalbird (ankle).
The team has to cut the roster down to 53 players by 3 p.m. Tuesday. The Saints will practice through Thursday as they begin preparations for the Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers in the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 8.
