The New Orleans Saints, off to a promising start with Derek Carr under center in early 2024, have now endured a six-game losing streak that included three matchups without Carr, who was sidelined by an oblique injury. With the veteran quarterback set to return this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, fans hope the Saints can end their skid and reclaim momentum. However, Carr dismissed any notion of a heroic comeback, emphasizing that his role is simply to play his best.
“I am no savior. There’s only been one of those, and that is not me,” Carr told ESPN’s Katherine Terrell on Wednesday. “I am here to be a great leader and to be a great teammate and to do my job, the best of my ability… But to save us or anything like that, that’s not me. I’m gonna come in and do what my guys expect me to do.”
The Saints showed strong form in their first two games of the season, scoring a combined 91 points, securing a 2-0 start, and looking like one of the league’s top offenses. However, they struggled to maintain that success. Carr was under center for three losses, including a close game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, when he sustained his oblique injury in the fourth quarter.
Carr’s absence led the Saints to start rookie fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler in recent weeks. Since Week 6, New Orleans has struggled, scoring a total of 18 points in its last two games and ranking last in expected points added (EPA) per play.
Reflecting on his injury, Carr acknowledged the challenges of being sidelined. “It sucks having to sit there and watch when it wasn’t the most painful thing I’ve ever dealt with. It was just a lack of being able to do my job,” he said. “That was the most frustrating part, because I couldn’t just play through it. I just literally couldn’t do it. … It’s been the most frustrating injury I’ve ever had, besides breaking my ankle and not being able to play in the playoffs that year.”
Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced that second-year quarterback Jake Haener will serve as Carr’s backup in the upcoming game, replacing Rattler. “My expectation is that Derek’s going to be ready to go,” Allen stated. “In that case, Jake will be the backup… I don’t want to get into the specifics of the reasons why, but I feel like that’s the best thing for our team.”
Carr’s stats prior to his injury include a 70.3% completion rate, 989 passing yards, and eight touchdowns against four interceptions. The Saints, who defeated the Panthers 47-10 in their initial Week 1 matchup, hope to secure another victory this Sunday as they look to reset their season with Carr’s return to the lineup.
