The buzz around New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler has been building all offseason, hitting a peak last weekend when he delivered a strong performance in his first game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Rattler’s physical abilities are undeniable, and his mental toughness has impressed analysts, teammates, and the Saints’ coaching staff. He’s eager to compete and begin his professional journey.

However, the NFL journey is more of a rollercoaster than a straight path, especially for young players. After his standout performance, Rattler has reportedly faced some challenges in practice this week.

Spencer Rattler struggles in practice after his first NFL game

According to John Hendrix, Rattler had a “tough day” at practice on Tuesday, while Jake Haener shined and Derek Carr looked solid.

Rattler is dealing with a thigh injury that kept him out of Sunday’s practice as a precaution, sources say.

During team drills on Tuesday, Derek Carr completed all 11 of his passes, including a touchdown, and looked sharp, according to reporters. This is an encouraging sign for the Saints after a lackluster performance from the starting offense against Arizona, as Carr demonstrated why he’s at the top of the depth chart.

Nick Underhill of NOF Network highlighted Haener’s standout performance on Tuesday, noting it was the best among the three quarterbacks. Haener, a fierce competitor, is not backing down in the fight for the backup spot.

We’ll see if Rattler can rebound in practice this week, and expectations remain high for his performance this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the Saints’ preseason.