NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Derek Carr of the Saints is willing to take risks with his health to boost New Orleans’ chances of remaining competitive as the season progresses. However, after a stressful win against the struggling New York Giants, Carr may be sidelined once again, which poses a concern given the last experience without him on the field didn’t end well for the team.
On Monday, interim coach Darren Rizzi opted not to dismiss Carr’s participation in any of the team’s remaining four matches due to his injuries, which include a concussion and an injury to his non-throwing hand. The setbacks occurred during the climactic moments of Sunday’s game as Carr attempted to secure a first down and took a hard fall to the ground.
“We’re going to see what happens in the next couple of days and evaluate his healing process to determine if he can function,” Rizzi stated. He pointed out that while Carr’s throwing hand is undamaged, they still have to navigate through the implications of the injuries. Additionally, Carr must pass the concussion protocol before further assessments regarding his hand injury can be made.
Rizzi recalled that quarterbacks have successfully played while nursing non-throwing hand injuries in the past. He emphasized that the current injury appears non-surgical, which is an encouraging factor as they consider potential options going forward. Notably, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played with a fractured finger last season, and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is currently managing a similar situation.
If Carr is unable to take the field, either second-year pro Jake Haener or rookie Spencer Rattler will likely step in as his replacement. Rattler had previously started three games earlier in the season during Carr’s recovery from an oblique injury, which resulted in losses for the team amid a disappointing streak.
“It’s vital for us to support whichever quarterback takes the field and help them find their rhythm with the rest of the team,” remarked guard Lucas Patrick. “It’s just another obstacle we have to overcome in what has been a challenging season.”
On a positive note, the Saints’ defensive interior line has shown improvement, highlighted by defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Khalen Saunders each contributing with a sack in their recent matchup. Additionally, they restricted the Giants to 112 rushing yards, marking a significant achievement in their defensive efforts.
However, the offenses’ performance leaves much to be desired, as the Saints managed only 92 rushing yards, their fourth-lowest total of the season and notably their lowest in a winning effort.
On the rise is running back Kendre Miller, who has seen limited action during the season due to previous hamstring issues. He earned recognition for his performance against the Giants, where he demonstrated speed and strength, culminating in an 8-yard run for his first touchdown of the season. Patrick commended Miller for his tenacity, recalling how he remained on his feet and pushed through contact with the help of teammates to score.
Conversely, kicker Blake Grupe faced setbacks as he missed both of his attempts from beyond 50 yards against the Giants, marking his first missed kicks from that distance this season.
Injury woes also struck the Saints as reserve linebacker D’Marco Jackson left the game with an ankle injury.
A crucial statistic to note is that the Saints have yet to win a game without Carr, holding a 5-5 record when he starts.
Moving forward, the Saints are slated to return home this Sunday for a matchup against Washington. This game could mark the debut for ex-New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the Commanders and the return of quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner, to Louisiana after his time at LSU.
