Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough says he is not going to approach New Orleans Saints training camp any differently now that veteran Derek Carr has retired, despite new head coach Kellen Moore revealing that all three QBs remaining on the roster will get a shot at the starting job.

Shough, taken in the second round of the recent NFL Draft — despite rumoured Saints’ target Shedeur Sanders still being on the board — joined an already-crowded QB room, with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener battling over what many expected to be the backup role behind Carr. The former Raider’s decision to call time on his career following medical investigations into a lingering shoulder, however, has thrown the Saints an unexpected curve ball.

“A lot of times in the offseason programme you’re kind of focused on building one guy up for the regular season, [while] the young guys battle and see where those positions lie,” Moore was quoted by the team’s official website. “I think, [through] this whole process, we’ll be very patient and make sure all these guys get the chance to compete at a really high level. We’ll rotate [them], give them all opportunities.”

Speaking at the end of the third-and-final day of the Saints’ rookie minicamp, former Louisville QB Shough told reporters that he still intends to treat the preseason programme as if Carr was still on the team.

“I think, for me, it’s just going through the same process for minicamp, trying to learn the playbook and get to know my team-mates as much as I can,” he said. “Kellen told me this morning [about Carr’s retirement] and that was the extent of it. All you can ask for is an opportunity, at any position, and I’m going to treat it the same way as if whoever is on the roster. I was going to come in regardless of [Carr] being here or not and try and continue to grow. I think he’s been such a high-level player for so long, it would be a great opportunity to learn from him, [but] it’s also a great opportunity to grow myself and be on this team with a lot of great coaches and guys on the team that we have already.”

Shough, a six-year college veteran, has already impressed Moore during the brief time he has been on the practice field, but has yet to match up against his rivals for the starting job — and that opposition could expand should the Saints decide to sign a veteran to replace Carr, with Jameis Winston and Aaron Rodgers both having been mentioned in connection with the team since Carr’s announcement went public.

“Tyler hopped in here and did an excellent job,” Moore confirmed. “For all these guys, a lot of times in rookie minicamp I’m not as concerned about the physical component, but just how they’re prepared mentally. Really, what you care about is how they command the huddle, command the whole operation when they come in here. It’s a new system, it’s new language, all those things associated with it, [but] I thought he’s done an excellent job.”