The Saints’ rookie quarterback Jake Haener has reportedly been suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Haener will miss the first six games of the season, making him unavailable until Monday, October 16. 
Haener was drafted to New Orleans in the fourth round this year out of Fresno State, where he spent most of his college career after transferring from Washington. Haener made the team’s initial 53-man roster and was expected to take a role as the Saints’ third, emergency quarterback behind starter Derek Carr and backup Jameis Winston.
New Orleans recently made an announcement that hybrid quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill would officially be listed as a quarterback, according to another post from Terrell. Many were surprised by the move as he’s seen continued time in a heavily split role. With Haener becoming unavailable for a decent stretch of time, Hill’s official designation makes a little more sense. Until Haener returns for a Week 7 matchup against the Jaguars, Hill will likely fill the emergency quarterback role for roster purposes.
Haener claimed ignorance when addressing the violation, saying in a statement posted to his X account that he does “not know how the substance got into (his) body, as none of (his) supplements or prescribed medications contain the banned ingredient.” He went on to take responsibility for the failed test, nonetheless, accepting the punishment to come. The suspension will be an unpaid one, meaning Haener will miss out on $250K of his $750K base salary in his rookie year, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune.
