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Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a shocking turn of events, Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered a right shoulder injury during the team’s heartbreaking 18-17 loss to the Packers, forcing him to seek medical evaluation at a local hospital, as confirmed by coach Dennis Allen.
“They’re conducting X-rays to assess the extent of the injury,” elaborated Allen, “As soon as we have more information, we will make it public.”
Carr returned home with the team, his condition unknown.
This unfortunate incident adds to the ongoing saga of quarterback injuries for the Saints. Over the past five seasons, the team has struggled with numerous quarterback injuries. Drew Brees missed a significant part of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, while Jameis Winston battled a torn ACL in 2021 before suffering back and foot injuries in 2022.
During this period, the Saints saw Teddy Bridgewater, Trevor Siemian, Ian Book, Taysom Hill, and Andy Dalton fill in for the injured quarterbacks due to various reasons such as injuries and COVID-19.
Following Carr’s departure from the game in the second half, the Saints turned to Winston. Despite a commanding 17-0 lead at the time, the Packers made a stunning comeback in the fourth quarter to secure a victory.
Winston completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards, showcasing his ability to lead the team. In the final three minutes of the game, he managed to drive the Saints 47 yards to the Green Bay 34-yard line. However, the potential game-winning field goal by Saints kicker Blake Grupe went wide.
“I believe Jameis stepped in admirably,” praised Allen. “But overall, it wasn’t good enough for any of us.”
The injury to Carr occurred when he landed hard on his shoulder after being sacked during a third-and-9 play with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter. He remained on the ground for a few minutes while trainers attended to him, causing concern among his teammates.
“Seeing him on the ground motionless was alarming,” shared Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who scored a punt return touchdown earlier in the game.
Carr managed to walk to the sideline on his own before entering the injury tent, where team doctors evaluated him and determined the need for X-rays, leading to his departure from the game.
Before his injury, Carr had completed 13 of 18 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
“He took quite a hit,” noted Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. “You could clearly see it. It’s unfortunate because of the impact he made on the ground. I hope it’s not serious; that’s the primary concern.”
If Carr is unable to play for an extended period, Winston will once again assume the starting quarterback role for the Saints. Winston willingly accepted a pay cut to remain with the team this year after Carr’s arrival on a lucrative four-year, $150 million deal in free agency.
“I have complete confidence in our football team,” reassured Allen when questioned about his faith in Winston. “We stumbled today, we’ll learn from it, improve, and keep moving forward.”
Winston has previously filled in for an injured Brees, starting games in 2020 and 2021. Last season, he did not regain his starting position after the team opted to rest him and allow his injuries to heal, resulting in Dalton taking over.
Reflecting on the situation, Winston shared that his initial concern after Carr’s injury was for his well-being. However, he quickly shifted his focus to preparing for the game.
“My first thought was about Derek’s condition,” said Winston. “But my second thought was to grab my helmet and warm up. I was ready for this opportunity, as I have been there before.”
Carr’s absence came shortly after guard Cesar Ruiz was also ruled out due to a concussion.
“We know he’ll bounce back; he’s a resilient guy,” stated Shaheed. “He’s a warrior, and we’re all behind him no matter what.”
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