We finally have an answer as to who the New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback will be for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

It’s Jake Haener.

After coach Dennis Allen refused to announce his choice following roster cuts, the Saints declared rookie Spencer Rattler the team’s emergency quarterback when they announced the ineligible players 90 minutes before kickoff.

That means Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick, will serve as the backup behind starter Derek Carr. The Saints chose Haener after a tough battle between Haener and Rattler in training camp and the preseason.

In three exhibition games, Rattler was slightly more productive than Haener. Rattler, a fifth-round rookie out of South Carolina, had a passer rating of 76.9 to Haener’s 74.8.

Rattler’s efforts also included engineering a game-winning two-minute drive against Arizona and a spectacular 21-yard touchdown pass in New Orleans’ final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

However, Haener had the better completion percentage (55.8% to 52.6%), threw for more yards (270 to 202) and conceded fewer sacks (one to three).

Rattler will technically not be able to play against the Panthers, but he can enter the game if Carr and Haener are both injured due to the league’s emergency quarterback rule.

In addition to Rattler, the Saints declared the following players inactive: