Jake Haener Reportedly Out Injured for 'Weeks' amid Saints' Shough, Rattler QB1 Battle

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener is reportedly expected to miss the rest of OTAs due to an injury.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Haener suffered an oblique strain at the end of Wednesday's practice, and while it will keep him out for "a couple of weeks," he is expected to be healed up in time for the start of training camp.

Haener is part of a three-way battle for the Saints' starting quarterback job along with rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough and 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler.

Head coach Kellen Moore noted Thursday the team plans to rotate Shough and Rattler at QB1 for the rest of the offseason:

Veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who was the Saints' primary starter for the past two seasons, surprisingly announced his retirement earlier this month, citing a shoulder injury that would have required surgery.

Even before Carr retired, rumors suggested that he would perhaps have to miss much or all of the 2025 season, which perhaps played a role in the Saints using the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Shough.

After Carr retired, new Saints head coach Kellen Moore made it clear that Shough, Rattler and Haener would all have an opportunity to win the starting job, telling reporters:

"We're going to let all three of these guys roll, and they've all earned these opportunities. We'll let Jake, Spencer and Tyler, all three, go through this process. Again, we'll play patience, let these guys compete, let them get into training camp and naturally these [competitions will] take care of itself."

Haener, who starred collegiately at Fresno State like Carr, is now the Saints' longest-tenured quarterback on the roster. New Orleans took him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft.

After not seeing any game action as a rookie, Haener was one of three quarterbacks to make the Saints' roster last season, along with Carr and Rattler.

Carr missed seven games due to injury last season, and while Rattler was given the starting nod in six of those games, Haener made his first career start in Week 15.

Haener struggled mightily in a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders, going just 4-of-10 for 49 yards with no touchdowns and one interception before getting benched in favor of Rattler.

The 2024 season wasn't all bad for Haener, though, as he showed some promise at times in relief. He went 3-of-4 for 38 yards, one touchdown and no picks in a 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, and 9-of-17 for 122 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 26-8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Shough may be the preferred option to start this season since the current regime used a second-round pick on him, and he will turn 26 during the first month of the season after a lengthy collegiate career.

Haener is only 26 himself and has been with the Saints for the longest, but his tenure may not matter much since the coaching staff is new.

Little is expected of the Saints regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job this season, but it is still shaping up to be one of the most intriguing and competitive battles of training camp since no player has a clear advantage over the others.