Saints' QB competition ongoing and 'really close,' coach says

While 31 of the 32 NFL teams have named their starting quarterback in this final week of training camp with Week 1 coming into focus, the New Orleans Saints haven't settled on a starter just yet.

New head coach Kellen Moore said they'll use this week to evaluate whether second-year QB Spencer Rattler or rookie Tyler Shough -- the Saints' second-round pick in April -- will be named the starter. As Moore told reporters, the team has three practice days and their final preseason game versus the Denver Broncos (in New Orleans) to help them determine a starter.

"It's really, really close -- numbers, experiences, reps, everything -- it's going all the way back to the start of training camp," Moore told ESPN. "Everything is very, very close between this group."

Even their preseason numbers have been close. Rattler has completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 252 yards, one touchdown and one interception while being sacked three times. Shough has completed 70.6 percent of his throws for 231 yards, one score and one INT while being sacked four times. Rattler does have 41 rushing yards (on six scrambles) while Shough has just one run for three yards.

The Saints host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. ET to open the regular season.

--Field Level Media