Rattler rallies Saints to 17-all
preseason tie with Jaguars as competition with Shough continues
[August 18, 2025]
By BRETT MARTEL
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Spencer Rattler now has some late-game highlights
on his preseason resume as he competes with rookie Tyler Shough to
become the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback.
Rattler connected with Dante Pettis for a 20-yard touchdown with 21
seconds left and scrambled for a 2-point conversion to help the
Saints salvage a 17-17 tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
“Just the way we finished was exciting," Rattler said.
"Got-to-have-it type moments and to bring it to life out there on
the field, especially in the (Superdome), was fun.”
Rattler finished 18 of 24 for 199 yards, one TD and one
interception.
Shough, who started for the first time and played the whole first
half, went 9 for 12 for 66 yards without a turnover. He led one
scoring drive that concluded with Blake Grupe’s 51-yard field goal
after Chris Olave dropped a third-down pass that could have extended
the series.
“I felt really comfortable," Shough said. “We had some balls that
didn’t bounce our way sometimes, but that’s part of it.
“It’s new for all of us — a new offense, new system, new guys we’re
throwing to,” Shough added. "So, there’s going to be growth
moments.”
The system was brought in by rookie coach Kellen Moore, who has one
more preseason game to figure out who'll be his Week 1 starter.
“Sooner always is better, but these guys are competing and they’re
giving everything that we can ask," Moore said. "So, we’ll continue
to evaluate.”
Rattler was intercepted by Keni-H Lovely at the Jacksonville 7 in
the fourth quarter. But rather than remove the second-year pro in
favor of Jake Haener, Moore gave Rattler another chance.
“It was important just from an evaluation standpoint on Spence,”
Moore said. “Those are critical moments. You have a tough situation;
you’ve got to respond.”
With no overtime in the preseason, the Jaguars crossed midfield in
the final seconds — one week after Cam Little made a 70-yard field
goal.
But Seth Henigan's pass over the middle bounced off of Chandler
Brayboy's hands and right to Saints safety Jonas Sanker, whose
40-yard return ended when he was pushed out of bounds at the
Jacksonville 24 as time expired.
“We played well enough to win, but in this game, especially in
preseason, you see some crazy stuff," Jaguars coach Liam Coen said.
“I’d like to be able to finish the game the right way.”
Had Sanker run out of bounds earlier, New Orleans (0-1-1) could have
set up for a game-winning kick.
Sanker said he “probably could have played it a little safer and got
out a little earlier.”
Saints receiver Mason Tipton, a second-year pro out of Yale, caught
six passes for 100 yards, one week after his 54-yard touchdown catch
from Shough against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) throws a pass
against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of an NFL
preseason football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP
Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Parker Washington caught a 7-yard touchdown pass
from Trevor Lawrence and Bayshul Tuten rushed for a 3-yard touchdown
for Jacksonville (0-1-1).
Lawrence played for two drives and had little trouble moving the
offense while going 8 of 10 for 76 yards and a TD.
However, his first drive ended with a turnover on the New Orleans 12
when Lawrence tripped as he turned to hand off to Tank Bigsby. The
ball squirted loose and defensive lineman Vernon Broughton
recovered.
“Besides that play, to be honest, it was a pretty clean day,”
Lawrence said. “We moved the ball, stayed on schedule and we were
pretty efficient.”
Little converted from 53 yards as the first half ended to make it
17-3 — and making him 5 for 5 in the preseason, all on kicks longer
than 39 yards.
Rattler began his day by leading New Orleans to the first of
Irishman Charlie Smyth’s two second-half field goals — with the help
of Christian Braswell's pass-interference penalty on a deep pass
intended for Tipton.
The second kick, which made it 17-9, came after Rattler's 45-yard
connection with Tipton.
Jacksonville QB Nick Mullens, who took over for Lawrence in the
second quarter, passed for 112 yards and led the Jags to 10 points,
but also was intercepted by Jaylan Ford at the Saints 15.
Injuries
Jaguars: Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall draft choice Travis
Hunter was scratched before the game with what the team has called
an upper-body injury.
Saints: Center Cesar Ruiz was examined in the injury tent in the
second quarter after going down awkwardly as the pocket collapsed on
Shough, who was sacked by Ventrell Miller and Jack Kiser. Moore said
he thought Ruiz would be “fine.”
Up next
Jaguars: Visit the Miami Dolphins on Saturday.
Saints: Host the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
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