Derek Carr’s shoulder confession leaves Saints fans stunned

April 28, 11:46 PDT

Key Points Summary: Derek Carr’s shoulder confession

Derek Carr breaks silence on lingering shoulder injury during a sermon
MRI confirms damage, but no surgery announced yet
The Saints were aware but hadn’t publicly addressed it until now
Rumors swirl after the team drafts QB Tyler Shough
Carr frustrated by “lies” and judgment over his health and future
New coach Kellen Moore faces QB dilemma amid fan anxiety

Derek Carr confesses to hidden injury… during a church sermon

It wasn’t at a press conference. It wasn’t through a team statement. And it was during a guest sermon in Las Vegas that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr finally told the truth: he’s been playing with a shoulder injury.

“I hate that I have to say this, but yes, I have a shoulder injury,” Carr announced mid-sermon, looking out at a stunned congregation. “There’s an MRI that confirms it.”

And just like that, the whispers that had haunted the Saints all offseason were confirmed — not by the team, not by the NFL, but from Carr himself… at the pulpit.

What exactly is going on with Derek Carr? – Derek Carr’s shoulder confession

For months, the Saints fan base had been fed nothing but vague statements and silence. There were rumors, tweets, leaks… and then the Saints did what teams usually do when their QB situation is not fine — they drafted a quarterback.

With the 40th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, New Orleans grabbed Louisville’s Tyler Shough — a move that sparked immediate speculation that Carr’s days as the team’s unquestioned starter might be numbered.

Now we know why.

Carr didn’t detail which shoulder is injured or how bad it is. But sources confirmed the injury could have serious implications. It’s the same shoulder he injured in 2023, when he toughed it out with an AC joint sprain and didn’t miss a game.

The Saints were in the loop — but said nothing

Carr insisted there’s no drama behind the scenes: “The team knows about it. We’ve been in constant communication.” He added that “there’s nothing wrong,” but also admitted “we’re figuring it out.”

Translation? The situation is not under control.

What’s more disturbing is how the organization handled it — or didn’t.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis only acknowledged Carr’s shoulder issue after the draft. The Saints never listed the shoulder on any injury report in 2024, and Carr continued throwing bombs like nothing was wrong. But clearly, something was.

Was Carr covering it up… or being covered?

Back on April 11, NFL.com dropped a bombshell: an anonymous source claimed Carr might need shoulder surgery — potentially sidelining him for the entire season.

That report set off a chain reaction. Fans demanded answers. Carr’s agent went quiet. And the Saints? They deflected.

Even now, no one has confirmed when Carr got hurt, how bad it is, or if he’ll even be ready for Week 1. But it seems the injury isn’t new — it’s been lingering. In 2024, Carr missed seven games due to oblique and hand issues, but nothing was said about his shoulder.

So why lie?

That’s what Carr wanted to address head-on.

Carr slams the rumors and judgment

“I’ve been dealing with people lying about me,” he said in his sermon. “Why do I have to keep dealing with this nonsense?”

He seemed more hurt by the public speculation than the injury itself. “You never know what someone’s really going through,” he added.

The frustration was palpable. This was a quarterback — a veteran — trying to defend not just his health, but his character.

But even if Carr is angry, his future remains cloudy.

The Saints have a new coach — and possibly a new plan

Carr was Dennis Allen’s guy. But Allen is gone. Kellen Moore is now the Saints’ head coach, coming from the Philadelphia Eagles to inject new life into a stagnant offense.

Moore is known for explosive plays and QB creativity. But will he stick with Carr, a veteran with injuries and inconsistency? Or start fresh with Tyler Shough?

The locker room loves Carr. But fans? Not so much. The Saints were 14-13 with Carr over two seasons. Flashes of brilliance were overshadowed by confusion, breakdowns, and now, silence.

What happens next?

Carr’s sermon came off as both a confession and a plea. He wants understanding. He wants patience. But he also wants to keep his job.

As of now, he hasn’t been ruled out for training camp. But the Saints’ decision to draft a quarterback says plenty.

And if Carr isn’t 100 percent — or doesn’t start fast — the Shough era may come sooner than expected.