Locals in the NFL: Is former BYU QB Zach Wilson eyeing QB2 with the Saints?

AROUND THE SHIELD — As far as NFL preseason performances in game No. 1 go, Zach Wilson had about as strong of a debut with the New Orleans Saints as can be expected.

The former BYU quarterback completed 11-of-16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans’ 24-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as leading a scoring drive to end the first half and put the Saints up 20-6.

Wilson wasn’t the only Saints player who excelled in his preseason debut with the Saints. But his play — as well as Spencer Rattler’s 8-of-11 passing for 42 yards and a fumble that Jacksonville recovered deep in New Orleans territory, has plenty asking about the Corner Canyon High graduate in the days since.

Specifically, could Wilson be on track to for QB2 minutes behind last year’s PFWA All-Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

One person who isn’t asking that question, though? Zach Wilson.

“I don’t think about it like that,” he told reporters postgame. “Obviously, I’m here to compete. I would love to be the 2, I would love to find my way up there; that’s why I chose to come here: to have an opportunity to compete.

“But it’s out of my control,” he added. “So I’m just competing and focusing on one play at a time, every day in practice, watching the film, and trying to get better every day.”

11/16 for 145 yards and 1 TD.

Zach Wilson put up a solid performance in his first preseason game with the @Saints 👀 pic.twitter.com/4wvmSNzhbT

— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2026

Saints coach Kellen Moore on Zach Wilson’s spot on depth chart

New Saints head coach Kellen Moore said the team is “still talking through” the potential starter for Saturday’s second preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.

But he didn’t rule out Wilson taking the first snaps, either.

“It could be,” he told reporters after a joint practice Thursday with the Rams. “We’ll work through that; both of those guys are playing some good ball.”

Moore added the final decision on who starts and the rotation of the quarterbacks will depend on the “timing of the game,” as well as a “mix and match” approach.

“We’ll talk through the rotations of everyone,” said Moore, one of two active NFL head coaches who is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Our focus was on this practice, and this afternoon we’ll get into what the game is going to look like for everyone.”

There’s plenty to like for Wilson in the Big Easy.

After making just four appearances and attempting 11 passes in his lone season with the Denver Broncos, Wilson signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Saints in the offseason.

The former No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2021 has had plenty of ups and downs in his NFL career. But the 27-year-old signal caller from Draper who recently became a first-time father with his wife Nicolette is enjoying his latest stop in the league — whatever role and however long that stay becomes.

“I want to use my time in the league to my advantage,” said Wilson, who is unofficially listed as the Saints’ third-string quarterback. “I’m still young, but I feel like I’ve been able to play in a lot of games and see a lot of different things. I feel like it’s been able to slow down for me.

“At the end of the day, whatever happens, happens,” he added.

That includes offering a leadership role to quarterback Hunter Dekkers, the former Iowa State signal caller who finished his college career at Iowa Western after being caught up in a gambling investigation at the school.

Dekker went undrafted in 2025, received an invitation to Saints rookie mini-camp, and played in the spring with the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL) following a brief stay on New Orleans’ practice squad.

So when Dekkers made his NFL preseason debut against the Jaguars, when he completed 8-of-15 passes for 69 yards, Wilson felt some sort of sentiment for the youngster.

“This is my 17th preseason game,” he said, “and I remember the feelings of it being my first time stepping on an NFL field.”

Next up for the Saints

The Saints will face the Los Angeles Rams in the second game of the 2026 NFL preseason on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.

New Orleans wraps up its preseason slate Friday, Aug. 28 against the Dallas Cowboys (6 p.m. MT).