Rookie Spencer Rattler will start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday, replacing an injured Derek Carr.
Carr suffered an oblique strain in Monday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Allen. He is considered week-to-week.
The Saints play two games in 10 days — Sunday against Tampa Bay and then Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos on “Thursday Night Football.”
Rattler, who the Saints selected in the fifth round out of South Carolina, has yet to make his NFL debut. He was inactive as team’s No. 3 quarterback behind Carr and Jake Haener through New Orleans’ first five games.
During three preseason appearances, Rattler completed 20 of 38 pass attempts (52.6%) for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing seven times for 26 yards and a lost fumble.