Kellen Moore’s first year is already teetering off script, with training camp updates reading more like injury reports than progress notes. The quarterback battle between rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler has turned into a tense back-and-forth. Shough lit up the field Sunday with a perfect 54-yard touchdown strike against the Chargers that sent the crowd roaring. Moments earlier, he had crashed with a costly pick-six, the kind of turnover that makes coaches bury their faces in play sheets. Rattler, patient but poised, watches every snap, ready to step in if Shough’s next mistake tilts the competition.

Ever since Derek Carr’s retirement, the quarterback battle has stayed alive and unsettled. The Saints depth chart lists QB1 as Tyler Shough “OR” Jake Haener “OR” Spencer Rattler. Kellen Moore is not ready to name a season starter as of yet. His plan is to split reps and let performance dictate the winner. The work has been cut out for both.

In a clip from the Up and Adams show circulating on X, Moore explained what he values most. “I think it’s just going to come down to consistency. You know, I think it’s about the command of the offence. I think all these guys can make the throws that they need. I think it’s about the consistency and doing it week in and week out.” The message was clear, but his decision is still in limbo.

Moore also gave fans a peek at his process. “This week, we’re going to rotate a little bit. We’re still in competition mode and we’ll just see where the third preseason game presents itself. So if we’re there, we’re there and we’re books closed. And I think that’s the biggest thing with this thing is once we pick our guy, like we’re rallying behind this guy and we’re rolling.” The emphasis is on finding the right leader before committing after the preseason debut.

The opener did not deliver fireworks. Rattler started, but Shough took more snaps, taking the spotlight, battling through a knee injury. Rattler went 7-for-11 for 53 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, but he did suffer a sack-fumble. As the quarterback room fights for the top spot, injuries in other positions are beginning to shake the Saints‘ depth.

Kellen Moore’s roster takes repeated hits

Kellen Moore is facing a depth crisis at tight end. Both Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill remain sidelined with no clear return date. “They’re not ready to get on the field any time soon,” Moore admitted. Their absence leaves a glaring hole in the Saints’ offensive weapons.

The injury setbacks extend to the trenches. Veteran center Will Clapp, a New Orleans native and former LSU standout, has been ruled out for the entire 2025 season. His loss hits hard as he was filling in for starting center Erik McCoy, who is also battling injury issues. Foster Moreau has stayed involved despite his injury, working with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough on throwing drills at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium and attending minicamps and OTAs as a spectator.

Kellen Moore called him the perfect veteran presence, saying, “He is everything we want in our program. I think he’s a great example, he can’t do much of anything from a physical standpoint, (but) he’s in every meeting, he’s out there every day. He’s leading the group. He’s got a voice, and you hear it, during 7-on-7 periods, chewing and yelling at people left and right.”

Both tight end injuries date back to late last season. Hill went down on December 1 in a Week 13 loss to the Rams. Moreau’s injury came during the January 7 season finale against the Buccaneers. A couple of weeks earlier, General Manager Mickey Loomis confirmed Hill would open camp on the physically unable to perform list. He avoided any prediction on a return date but said “everything has been positive” in Hill’s medical reports.

The Saints’ 2024 campaign was defined by inconsistency. The defense kept them competitive, but the offense struggled to find momentum. Injuries, unreliable pass protection, and a stagnant run game stalled drives. The team missed the playoffs, leaving doubts about whether the current roster can truly contend in the NFC South. For now, Moore must roll the dice on the season starter.