NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Jake Haener for the first six games of the regular season after he violated the league’s PED policy. The news was first broken Wednesday afternoon by Field Yates via X.
The news was dropped just days ahead of the Black and Gold’s week one matchup versus the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 10th in the Caesars Superdome.
The rookie quarterback joins star running back Alvin Kamara, who was also suspended recently for his involvement in a fight in Las Vegas during the 2022 Pro Bowl. Haener’s first game back from suspension won’t be until week seven when the Saints host the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 19th for a Thursday Night matchup.
Haener was one of two fourth-round selections for the New Orleans Saints in the 2023 NFL draft this past April. The former Fresno State Bulldog played in all three preseason games this August where he recorded 38 completions out of 72 pass attempts for 395 yards and one touchdown compared to three interceptions. The lone passing touchdown came in the first preseason game versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite making the final 53-man team, Haener would have been listed as the fourth-string quarterback behind starter Derek Carr, Swiss army knife Taysom Hill, and veteran Jameis Winston. Due to the three other signal callers on the roster, Haener would likely be one of the six players who would be healthy scratches and wouldn’t dress out for games.
Saints fans and media still await a potential suspension for safety Marcus Maye, who got a six-month probation when he accepted a plea deal that stemmed from a 2021 DUI.