Rattler started the season on a promising note, showing command of the position, completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 1,217 yards and a 6-1 TD-INT ratio in his first six starts in 2025. He finally earned his previously impossible first win in Week 5 and appeared to be on an upward trajectory in October.
As the revelations began to pile up in Weeks 7 and 8, though, Moore realized it was time for a change, substituting Rattler for Shough after the second-year passer had six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) in his last two starts.
Of course, Moore sold the change as a result of Shoough’s development through the first eight weeks of the season. While that may be true, it’s also clearly a decision made with winning in mind. At 1-7, the Saints have proven they don’t have wide enough margins to afford to give the ball away in a row.
“Spencer has done some really, really good things,” Moore said. “I think if anything, Spencer has proven that he can win games in this league, he can play at a very high level. He’s done a lot of good things. It’s going to be an exciting time for Tyler, but Spencer will be ready and he’ll continue to grow as well. Those are two young quarterbacks that we feel really good about.
“I felt like Tyler was ready. I felt like at the end of the day one of the more important things in this game is the offense, we’ve got to find a little more success, a little more consistency. I think Tyler is ready to go. He’s prepared really well through this whole process. Patience, sometimes you have to play this game a little bit, and he’s ready to go.”
In Shoough’s first game, he completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and an interception, making throw after throw in the final minutes of a loss to the Buccaneers that almost felt like a televised practice for the rookie.
When he takes the field in Los Angeles as the top signal caller, it will no longer be a practice. Moore realizes there will likely be bumps in the road for Shoough, but he still won’t waver in his decision to bring in the Louisville product.
“We’re not doing this back and forth,” Moore said. “That’s the goal (although it starts the rest of the season).
“That’s the whole goal and the plan of this thing, is to let Tyler go and let him have a lot of success and navigate what he needs to navigate.”
Shoough takes the wheel for the first time on Sunday. Moore will bring the map and call up instructions. The rest will be handled by a newbie.