Haener is slated to remain the Saints' No. 2 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with head coach Dennis Allen announcing Wednesday that rookie Spencer Rattler will start the Week 6 contest in place of the injured Derek Carr (oblique), Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Haener has served as the Saints' top backup all season while Rattler has been inactive as the No. 3 quarterback in each of the team's first five games, but the fifth-round pick out of South Carolina will leapfrog Haener on the depth chart with Carr set to miss at least one start. After Carr was injured in Monday's loss to the Chiefs, Haener directed the offense for the final drive of the night but didn't impress in his limited action, completing two of seven pass attempts for 17 yards and carrying twice for 11 yards. Other than stating that Rattler gives the Saints the best chance to win, Allen declined to provide many specifics regarding why the rookie was chosen to start over Haener, who is only a year older than Rattler and was actually drafted higher (fourth-round choice in 2023).
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Saints' Jake Haener: Week 6 Waiver Priority List
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Derek Carr (oblique) left Monday's game at Kansas City and was replaced by Haener. We'll see what happens heading into Week 6 against Tampa Bay, but Haener could be an injury replacement in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues if he starts against the Buccaneers. Keep an eye on what happens in practice for New Orleans, but Haener is worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Steps in for injured Carr
Rotowire
Haener entered Monday's 26-13 loss to the Chiefs in the fourth quarter in relief of injured starter Derek Carr (oblique) and completed two of seven pass attempts for 17 yards while adding 11 yards on two carries.
Carr tweaked his oblique on an incomplete fourth-down pass attempt with 9:32 remaining in the fourth quarter and didn't return for the Saints' final drive of the night, with Haener getting pressed into duty in his stead. Haener's prior two NFL regular-season appearances had come at the tail end of blowouts, but the 2023 fourth-round pick saw his first action in a more competitive setting Monday. Carr will likely undergo further testing on his oblique in the coming days before the Saints have a better feel for his status heading into their Week 6 game against the Buccaneers on Sunday, but if Carr is forced to miss that contest, Haener would presumably be in line for his first career start.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Serving as No. 2 quarterback
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Haener carried three times for minus-3 yards in Sunday's 44-19 win over the Cowboys.
Haener has opened the season as the Saints' No. 2 quarterback, backing up Derek Carr in both of the team's first two contests while Spencer Rattler has been a healthy inactive as the third man on the depth chart. With Carr leading the Saints to blowout wins over the Panthers and Cowboys, Haener has seen garbage-time action in the fourth quarter of both contests. The two late-game cameos represented his first NFL appearances, as Haener didn't see any action with the Saints as a fourth-round rookie a season ago.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Starts but outplayed by Rattler
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Haener started Sunday's 30-27 preseason loss to the Titans and completed eight of 17 passes for 87 yards, without a touchdown or interception. He added one rushing attempt for six yards.
Haener and Spencer Rattler alternated two-possession chunks under center, but Rattler led three touchdown drives and got points on all four of his possessions, while the Saints sputtered to just three points on Haener's six drives. Any slim lead Haener had in the competition to begin the regular season as Derek Carr's top backup could have evaporated with this poor performance, but it's possible the Saints will opt to keep the 2023 fourth-round draft pick on their 53-man roster, even if the rookie fifth-round pick Rattler now may be the favorite to occupy the second spot on the quarterback depth chart for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Panthers.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Diagnosed with skin cancer
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Haener revealed Friday that he has a rare form of skin cancer on his face and will have an evaluation Thursday to determine his treatment plan moving forward, Mike Triplett of New Orleans.Football reports.
Haener added that the condition isn't believed to be life-threatening, but he is still determining whether to put off treatment. If Haener opts to put off treatment, he would likely continue to compete against rookie fifth-round draft pick Spencer Rattler for the backup quarterback job behind Derek Carr throughout training camp and the preseason.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Never plays as rookie
Rotowire
Haener did not appear in a game during his 2023 rookie season.
Haener was suspended for the first six games of the season and never appeared in any games as a rookie. The fourth-round pick likely never would have seen the field even if he was not suspended, as veteran Jameis Winston appeared firmly planted as the Saints' primary backup quarterback behind Derek Carr heading into the regular season. The starting signal-caller was knocked out of three games due to injuries this season, and Winston handled the remainder of quarterback reps in his absence. Haener will likely get an opportunity to compete with Winston for the No. 2 quarterback spot heading into the 2024 campaign.
