Jake Haener hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass, but the Saints still see something worth developing. The 2023 fourth-round pick spent most of his rookie year suspended, then inactive. Yet New Orleans held onto him, banking on what he showed in camp—his timing, his feel, the way the ball came out. One year later, the quarterback room is more crowded, and Haener’s window is narrow, which means every rep matters.

Haener, the 127th pick out of Fresno State, signed a four-year, $4.5 million deal last May, with just over $700,000 guaranteed. He’s earned praise for his poise and processing, but none of that matters without availability. “I’m not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I’ll get better, do the rehab, go through the process, and I’ll be ready to go for camp,” he said.

During Wednesday’s OTA, the Saints QB strained his oblique during post-practice work and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, per ESPN. No tear, no long-term concern—but a setback all the same. For a player in his position, the margin is thin. The silver lining? He’s only expected to miss a couple of weeks and should be back in time for camp. Jake Haener later posted a calm, confident update on Instagram, captioned “Be back soon”. He is rocking a black Saints tee with gold lettering, tagged in New Orleans. In less than 24 hours, the post crossed 1,000 likes, with fans rallying in the comments.

Coach Kellen Moore addressed the setback head-on. “No one wants to miss time, obviously,” Moore said. “But for Jake and his situation, there’s still a teaching component, a mental component, that he’s capitalized on.” Haener stays locked in—studying film, shadowing the QB corps, and following the offseason plan step for step.

Moore made it clear: this isn’t a door slammed shut, but it’s a slight detour. “I don’t think it’s a drastic missed opportunity,” Moore added. “He’ll have plenty of opportunities as we go into training camp to continue to build.” The Saints’ fourth-round pick from 2023 has already proven he’s wired for the long haul. This hiccup won’t shake that.

But these spring windows can shift. With Jake Haener out, a 25-year-old rookie is now practicing the first-team reps at the Saints. 

Tyler Shough’s already snatching QB reps in NOLA

Tyler Shough showed up in New Orleans ready to do whatever it takes. “I will die on that field for y’all,” he said, eyes locked, voice steady. The Saints’ second-round pick is suiting up already, and the fire’s burning. “My goal is to come in there and compete and do everything I can to make the team better,” Shough said. “I’m just fired up for the opportunity.” That mindset has already turned heads in the locker room and even got veterans noticing him. 

On the Scoop City podcast, Jacob Robinson and former Saint Chase Daniel didn’t hold back. Shough, they say, is pulling ahead. “I think it’s Tyler Shough’s job to lose,” Robinson said. He called Shough a handpicked guy for Kellen Moore. Rattler and Haener? “Pretty underwhelming,” he added. Daniel agreed. “Tyler Shough walks in, and I think he’s a day-one starter based on the team they have around him.”

The Saints haven’t pulled the trigger this early on a quarterback since Archie Manning went No. 2 overall in 1971. That changed in 2025 when they grabbed Shough with the 40th pick. The former Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville QB broke the mold for a team that usually waits to find its guy under center. The move sent a clear message: New Orleans is looking to build something big and fast.

Even Saints legend Drew Brees is backing the rookie. “I think what’s impressive to me is, the kid has faced a lot of adversity and he’s overcome it every step of the way.”

Shough’s got the talent edge—no question. If he locks in the playbook, he’s got a real shot to start Week 1 vs. the Cardinals. Scouts love what he brings. Strong pocket presence. Deep-ball accuracy. A real vertical threat. But there’s chatter about his lower-body mechanics and whether he can speed up his release. His age and injury history don’t help either. Still, last season he earned Comeback Player of the Year from both the College Sports Communicators and the AP.

Eyes are glued to Shough now as he has the perfect opportunity to be the Saints’ QB1. Only time will tell if he has what it takes on the turf.