The QB battle is in full swing.
As a rookie quarterback who is fighting for a starting spot, expectations become an all-time high for that player to perform in training camp and never look back. Being drafted in the second round, this is the scenario that New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough has been thrown into. Bringing expectations back down to reality, rookies are rookies for a reason, and there are big adjustments to be made that comes with the territory. This has been the case for Shough at the start of training camp.
On day 1 of Saints practice, second-year QB Spencer Rattler performed throughout the day and looked much improved from his rookie struggles. This was the advantage that Rattler had in this quarterback battle since the beginning of minicamp, however Shough been able to hold his own. Things changed slightly when training camp began. Shough looked a bit inconsistent, even when some of the players he was throwing to dropped the passes. This could have been a matter of getting back into the rhythm of a faster-paced practice, but it could also have been that Shough is hitting a bit of a learning curve. Entering day 2, Shough was set to start with the first team, and this was where he hoped to bounce back.
In 7v7, Shough did just that, ending 3-4, and Spencer Rattler went 2-4, giving the rookie QB the leg up. Both QBs made plays in the redzone drills. Shough had a forced throw away, and Rattler threw an ugly interception to rookie Quincy Riley. Again, struggles like these should be expected from a rookie, but they can not become a pattern every practice. Someone who has definitely noticed this is Shough, and during his time with the media, the rookie mentioned his viewpoint after the first two days of training camp.
#Saints QB Tyler Shough says he is not where he wants to be, but he thinks that’s a good thing. He said they have more ways to grow, and that’s the part that Kellen Moore and the staff do a really good job of putting a lot of their plates to help them be successful
— Tina Howell (@TinaHowellNOLA) July 24, 2025
Drafting an older quarterback early in the draft has always seemed to be frowned upon in the league, but this quote from Shough is precisely why this risk has its benefits. A younger rookie may get in their head about any bad plays, inconsistencies, and more complex defenses that they are facing during practice. With a quarterback like Shough, they can see the struggles they are having and take positives from it so that morale can stay high. Doing this allows a player to stay on track and continue their development, which is essential for a rookie.
Mistakes are inevitable and inconsistency is expected. Still, improvements need to happen throughout training camp, and Shough seems more than ready for the challenge.