Saints’ Rattler preps Lambeau with reps in walk-in freezer

METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints had an unusual way to prepare rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler for Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, where temperatures of 30 degrees or lower and potential snow are expected at Lambeau Field.

Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko took Rattler and the rest of the Saints’ quarterbacks into the walk-in freezer in the team’s cafeteria Saturday to run through plays.

“This morning Janocko took us into the cafeteria freezer where it was 10 degrees and we just go through the whole script in there and then just doing that, it helped a lot,” Rattler said. “So hopefully it’s not 10 degrees, but we’re ready.”

Janocko joked that he got the idea after watching “Cool Runnings.” In the film, a character sits in an ice cream truck to prepare for the conditions he will face as an Olympic bobsledder.

But Janocko also said he has a lot of ideas for preparing for cold weather after coaching in the NFC North from 2015 to 2023.

“I think there’s something we said about just preparing for (the cold) so you’re not shocked and it’s not surprising,” he said. “It’s something you deal with as far as preparing for the opponent and preparing for the venue. So I just thought it was good to do something a little different. This time of year it’s fun to do different thing. It’s a long season and sometimes other than just sitting in a meeting day after day, just doing something different and changing the scene. The guys thought it was fun.

Rattler will start his first game at Lambeau in place of the injured Derek Carr (hand), who was ruled out Saturday. Alvin Kamara (groin) was also ruled out. Both players missed practice all week.

Rattler started the second half of the 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders last weekend after the Saints benched Jake Haener after one half.

This will be the Rattler’s fourth start of the season. The rookie started three games earlier this year when Carr was out with an oblique strain.

Carr had not advanced enough in his rehab this week to return to practice, interim coach Darren Rizzi said. Rizzi also suggested earlier this week that Kamara would be a doubt to play after tests showed his groin injury was worse than initially expected.

“The last few days have definitely been encouraging,” Rizzi said. “(Carr) is starting to get some of the grip strength back and all that. I just felt like when I talked to him and the medical staff, we definitely got closer, but with where he’s at right now, I just did. I don’t feel like he had enough time to get out there and perform where he wanted to perform, I’m just better with the way it is right now, but he’s improved.

Receiver Chris Olave practiced in a limited capacity this week after returning from a lengthy stint on injured reserve after suffering two concussions, but is not ready to play in a game.

“He’s been nothing but smiles for the last few days and it’s just a great story,” Rizzi said. “… A guy who didn’t really know where he was going to be six or seven weeks ago, what was going to happen to him, his career. Just moving forward to see him come back, smile, see him run around , laughing with the guys in the locker room. All of that is heartwarming to me because there was a question there … about what was going to happen … He’s moving around like the Chris Olave I know, so that’s positive.”