Saints bench Haener, go back to Rattler in loss

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints didn’t have much patience with quarterback Jake Haener after a poor offensive showing in the first half of a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Haener, who was starting in relief of an injured Derek Carr, was benched after one half in favor of rookie Spencer Rattler. The Saints generated only 38 net yards of offense in the first half, their worst showing in a half since 2002. Haener completed only 4 of 10 passes for 49 yards, threw an interception and was sacked three times in the first start of his career.

Rattler came into the game in the second half to cheers as Haener stood on the sideline wearing a baseball cap. Rattler took six plays to get a passing game established, finding wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling downfield for a 39-yard gain.

That set up a touchdown pass on the next play, as Rattler tossed the ball back to wide receiver Cedric Wilson Jr., who then found Alvin Kamara for a 21-yard touchdown, the Saints’ first score of the game.

Rattler, who finished with 135 passing yards and a touchdown, started three games earlier in the season when Carr had an oblique strain, completing 59.6% of his passes for 571 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions before Sunday. He was sacked 14 times in those three starts. Carr is out with an injury to his non-throwing hand.