INJURY UPDATE: Saints Rookie QB Couldn’t Close His Jaw for Two Days After Brutal Hit vs. Rams – And Head Coach Kellen Moore’s Emotional Reaction Left the Entire Team Silent

INJURY UPDATE: Saints Rookie QB Couldn’t Close His Jaw for Two Days After Brutal Hit vs. Rams – And Head Coach Kellen Moore’s Emotional Reaction Left the Entire Team Silent

New Orleans, Louisiana – November 6, 2025

Pain, grit, and emotion — three words perfectly describe the moment Tyler Shough, rookie quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, opened up about the severe jaw injury he suffered during the team’s 34–10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9. The brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from linebacker Byron Young left Shough unable to close his jaw for nearly two days, even though the play drew a roughing-the-passer penalty.

Speaking to reporters midweek, Shough calmly recalled what he called “the most painful yet unforgettable moment” of his young career:

“I couldn’t close my jaw until yesterday,” Shough said, forcing a small smile. “They had to use needles around my face and jaw for treatment. It felt like someone was driving a steel pin into my bone — the pain was unreal. But honestly, all I could think about was getting back on the field. I didn’t want to walk away from my first NFL start because of pain. This is football — if you fall, you get up. If you get hit, you hit back harder.”

Despite the swelling and pain, Shough stayed in the game and led the Saints on a 71-yard scoring drive, capping it off with his first career touchdown pass — an 11-yard strike to tight end Juwan Johnson. The sideline erupted in cheers, but amid the noise, head coach Kellen Moore quietly walked over to Shough, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said something that brought the entire team to silence.

“I know you’re hurting,” Moore told him. “But look around — these guys are fighting because of you. Courage isn’t about not feeling fear. It’s about pushing forward even when it hurts.”

Medical evaluations later confirmed that Shough suffered no fractures, only heavy bruising and swelling, and he’s expected to start in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers.

Though the Saints sit at 1–8, the young quarterback’s resilience — and Moore’s heartfelt words on the sideline — have become a rallying point for the entire locker room.

“That’s football,” Shough said quietly as he left the press room. “The more I get hit, the more I want to stand back up — because that’s what fighting means.”