Backup quarterback Spencer Rattler may have started the New Orleans Saints’ 24-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, but Zach Wilson stole the show — and soon, maybe Rattler’s job.
Wilson shined in his Saints debut, completing 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown on 23 snaps. He was sacked once.
“I thought it was a lot of fun to get out on the field with the guys,” he said postgame. “Playing real football, it’s just different than practice for whatever reason, right? Just the feeling you get before the game and all that. It’s always fun to get on the field.”
His performance sparked a conversation of whether he should pass Rattler on the depth chart and be starter Tyler Shough’s backup.
Asked if he felt his play made a case for him to move up the depth chart, Wilson said he was unsure.
“I don’t think about it like that,” he said. “For me, obviously, I’m here to compete. I would love to be the (No.) 2. I would love to find my way up there. That’s why I chose to come here, to have an opportunity to compete, but it’s out of my control.”
The former No. 2 overall pick said he’s “focusing on one play at a time every day in practice” and learning and improving.
Wilson’s NFL career hasn’t gone as planned, but he’s using that experience to his advantage.
“I’m still young, but I feel like I’ve been able to play in a lot of games and see a lot of different things,” he said. “I feel like it’s been able to slow down a little bit for me. Being able to use that to my advantage and just see how good I can be, and then, at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens.”
What Kellen Moore said about Zach Wilson’s performance
Three of New Orleans’ quarterbacks — Rattler, Wilson and Hunter Dekkers — saw action on Saturday.
Rattler completed 8 of 11 passes for 42 yards and was sacked twice. Dekkers, an undrafted rookie out of Iowa Western Community College, completed 8 of 15 for 69 yards and was sacked once.
Head coach Kellen Moore said Wilson “did a really good job.”
“(He) continued what we’ve seen throughout training camp, and I think our quarterbacks (have) been playing at a really high level,” Moore said. “It’s a really talented group but a group that is just getting better.”
Asked if this could lead to Wilson getting more opportunities in practice, Moore said he didn’t know.
“We’ll see. We’ll continue to get these guys all these different reps. I think the world of our quarterback room.”
Moore called Wilson “a really talented quarterback” and “really, really good football player.”
“I’ve enjoyed seeing him just grow through the whole offseason program from OTAs to training camp to now,” he said.
Noting Wilson’s age, Moore added that “he’s still got tons of growing to do,” but Moore was “proud of what he was able to do out there on the field.”
Teammate Bub Means praises Zach Wilson
Wilson completed three passes to wide receiver Bub Means, including a pair of deep passes for 27 and 37 yards.
The 27-yard pass was originally ruled a touchdown, but replay officials reversed the play after reviewing that Means went out of bounds at the 1 yard line.
“His arm talent is amazing, and he’s a baller for sure. He’s going to take risks,” Means said postgame.
Means spoke about the connection he has been building with Wilson.
“We’ve been building chemistry,” he said. “I ain’t gonna say I’m his favorite target, but I might be his favorite target at this point. I know my boy gonna feed me, and I’m gonna make the plays. We gonna help each other out, let’s put it that way.”