Tyler Shough’s first road test of the season will come against a Baltimore Ravens defense that plans to bring heavy pressure, but defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has made clear he respects the second-year New Orleans Saints quarterback’s upside.
Weaver sees Allen-like traits in Shough
Weaver faced Shough last season while working with the Miami Dolphins and came away impressed by the rookie quarterback. Speaking Thursday before Sunday’s matchup in Baltimore, Weaver said Shough has physical traits that bring Josh Allen to mind.
“I like that kid,” Weaver said. “We played them later in the season when I was in Miami last year, and I was impressed with him as a rookie. He reminds me a little bit of a poor man’s Josh Allen.”
Weaver framed the comparison as praise, pointing to Shough’s arm strength, mobility and ability to create outside the structure of the offense.
“He has all the arm talent in the world and can run,” Weaver said. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for what a good athlete he is. Especially down in the low red zone, we have to stay aware of his ability to scramble and make extended plays, no different than our guy wearing No. 8.”
That reference was to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose escape ability remains a central concern for opposing defenses.
Saints quarterback rallied after uneven opener
- Shough endured a difficult start in New Orleans’ 31-30 overtime loss at Detroit in Week 1, missing several throws and committing three turnovers across the Saints’ first eight possessions.
- He recovered late, directing five scoring drives over New Orleans’ final six possessions while repeatedly finding openings in the Lions’ defense.
- Shough finished with a career-best 410 passing yards and three touchdown passes. He also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.
The performance showed both the volatility and playmaking ability Baltimore will be preparing for. Weaver believes continued game experience should help Shough grow more comfortable with the Saints’ system and the players around him.
“The more reps he gets, the more confidence he is going to have in that scheme and with the talent around him,” Weaver said. “They have done a good job building the talent around him. They have tremendous skill players, and I think they have improved their offensive line from what I saw a year ago. The sky is the limit for the kid.”
Ravens pressure against Shough will shape Sunday’s game
Shough’s response to Baltimore’s pass rush could decide the matchup. Against Detroit, he completed 11 of 19 passes for 206 yards when pressured, all personal highs in Next Gen Stats tracking.
The Ravens opened the season with a much more disruptive front than their 2025 numbers suggested. Baltimore pressured the quarterback on 52.9% of dropbacks in Week 1 after finishing last season with the NFL’s fifth-lowest pressure rate at 30.1%.
Baltimore’s rush reached the quarterback in an average of 2.33 seconds, its fastest figure in any game with at least 15 pressures since 2020. The Saints will need Shough to make quick decisions while also accounting for the quarterback’s ability to extend plays when protection breaks down.
The Saints and Ravens are scheduled to kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Baltimore.
