Saints Return One Quarterback, Waive Another

Saints rookie QB should finally be in uniform for the team this week.

The 3-3 New Orleans Saints are getting rookie QB Jake Haener back from a six-game NFL suspension this week. To make room for Haener on the roster, the Saints are placing QB Jake Luton on waivers. 

New Orleans traded a 2023 7th round choice and a 2024 4th round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft Haener in the fourth round of this year's draft with the 127th overall pick. He was the sixth quarterback selected in this year's draft. 

Haener, 24, completed 52.8% of his passes (38 of 72) for 395 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in three preseason games for the Saints. He was suspended prior to the start of the regular season for violating the league's PED policy. Luton served as the emergency quarterback during Haener's suspension. 

Starting his collegiate career at Washington in 2018, Haener transferred to Fresno State after his freshman year. In three seasons at Fresno State, he completed 68.2% of his throws for 9,013 yards with 67 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Aug 27, 2023; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener (14) passes against the Houston Texans. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Haener will be the third string quarterback for New Orleans. He'll back up starter Derek Carr and second-stringer Jameis Winston. The Saints rank 15th in the league for passing production after six games, averaging 216.7 yards per contest. Carr, who has started every game, has a 65% completion percentage with two 300-yard outings and five touchdowns with three interceptions. 

New Orleans hosts the 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.