The struggling New Orleans Saints have decided to give rookie quarterback Tyler Shough his first NFL start against the Rams on Sunday.

New Orleans announced the decision to promote Shough and bench second-year QB Spencer Rattler on Tuesday.

The Saints (1-7) selected Shough in the second-round of the draft — No. 40 overall — last spring. He was given an opportunity during preseason to compete with Rattler for the starting job but had played only sparingly since Rattler was named the Week 1 starter.

Shough made his regular-season debut during the Saints’ final offensive series of a 44-13, Week 3 loss at Seattle. He didn’t play again until the third quarter of last Sunday’s 23-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

Against the Bucs, Shough completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards. He was sacked twice and intercepted once.

The 26-year-old Shough spent seven injury-plagued seasons in college with Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville before he became the Saints’ highest drafted quarterback since Archie Manning was taken with the second overall pick in 1971.

Rattler, 1-13 as a starter in his NFL career, started the first eight games this season. He completed 174 of 256 passes for 1,586 yards and eight touchdowns. He turned the ball over only once on an interception during New Orleans’ first six games, but threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles in the past two games.

Ravens’ JACKSON looks good to go

The Baltimore Ravens listed Lamar Jackson as a full participant in practice Tuesday — and the star quarterback also spoke to reporters.

It’s the clearest sign yet that his hamstring injury is indeed behind him.

“I can’t wait to touch the grass with my guys,” Jackson said. “It’s been a while.”

The Ravens play at Miami on Thursday night. Jackson has missed the past three games. Last Friday, he was listed as a full practice participant, but he was still considered questionable for the game and wasn’t available to the media. He was ruled out a day later for Sunday’s game against Chicago.

This time, Jackson is practicing, talking — and eyeing an important game against the Dolphins. The Ravens (2-5) snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Chicago, but they still have a lot of work to do to overcome a terrible start exacerbated by Jackson’s injury.

“It’s do or die right now,” Jackson said. “Each and every week.”

Jackson also said he was the player who decided it was important to remove games such as pingpong from the locker room.

“I wouldn’t say people don’t take the job seriously — don’t get me wrong — but I didn’t feel like it was time for that,” he said.

NABERS HAS SURGERY

Malik Nabers had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, the New York Giants said, adding that their top receiver will begin his rehab upon his discharge from the hospital today.

Nabers went under the knife roughly a month after getting injured against the Chargers on Sept. 28.

He had 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns this year after making 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven TD as a rookie out of LSU last season.

BILLS’ OLIVER ON IR

The Buffalo Bills placed starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver on injured reserve. He is out indefinitely and requires surgery after tearing his left bicep Sunday.

Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, signed off the practice squad, fills Oliver’s roster spot. The Bills (5-2) are thin at defensive tackle, with starter DaQuan Jones’ status uncertain after missing two games with a calf injury.

Phillips has 11 years of NFL experience and returned for a fourth stint in Buffalo by signing to the practice squad in August.