With the backup quarterback competition between Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener heating up, the New Orleans Saints released Nathan Peterman, the team announced Friday. The veteran backup was let go to make room on the 90-man roster for more help at wide receiver after a rash of injuries; the Saints signed Samson Nacua in a corresponding move.

It's a tough break for Peterman, who might have made the team or gotten a spot on the practice squad had the Saints not drafted Rattler in April. But the upside in picking a talented rookie quarterback was too strong to pass up, and now Peterman will be looking to join another team for the preseason. He had followed his former position coach Andrew Janocko to New Orleans with an advocate in Jon Gruden, who had been consultant with the Saints coaching  staff.

If anything this says a lot about how the Saints currently feel about Rattler and Haener. They want to give those young passers every opportunity to show what they can do, starting with next week's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. If Peterman isn't going to see many snaps with either Rattler or Haener playing the entire second half, it makes sense to release him now so every effort can be spent preparing the youngsters and evaluating them. Good luck to Peterman in his next move.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: With backup QB competition heating up, Saints release Nathan Peterman