New Orleans Saints Quarterback Derek Carr Now Week to Week After Scary Hit

Posted on: September 26, 2023, 11:17h. 

Last updated on: September 26, 2023, 02:42h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr sustained a shoulder injury in a Week 3 loss against the Green Bay Packers and is listed as week to week on the injury report.

Saints Derek Carr injury
Members of the New Orleans Saints look concerned while they await medical staff to attend to quarterback Derek Carr, who went down with a shoulder injury against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. (Image: Getty)

Carr took a big hit in the third quarter and exited the game with a right shoulder injury.

Packers linebacker Rashan Gary sacked Carr and drove him to the ground. Carr was motionless on the turf at Lambeau Field for several minutes while training staff attended to him. He was whisked away to a local hospital in Green Bay for X-rays.

D-Carr got slammed pretty good,” said Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. “You could just tell. It was unfortunate because of the sack. I knew something was up with the force he was put on the ground.”

“Just to see him on the ground not wanting to move, of course, that was alarming to see,” said Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.

The Packers were concerned that Carr suffered a season-ending injury on his throwing arm. He underwent an MRI on Monday in New Orleans that revealed he only suffered a sprained AC joint, where the shoulder and collarbone meet.

Backup Jameis Winston Steps Up

It’s unknown when Carr will return to the lineup. But the Saints listed him as “week to week” until his shoulder injury heals. It looks like the Saints, and Carr will attempt to let the AC joint injury heal naturally instead of opting for surgery.

The Saints blew a 17-0 lead against the Packers after Carr exited in the third quarter, losing 18-17. Carr completed 13-of-18 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown before the shoulder injury.

Jameis Winston filled in for Carr in the second half against the Packers. Winston completed 10-of-16 passes for 101 yards. He didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions, but the Packers sacked him once.

Jameis did fine stepping in,” said head coach Dennis Allen. “Overall, I’m just going to say it wasn’t good enough for any of us.”

Winston, the #1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of FSU, has a 34-46 overall record as a starting quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints. In 10 starts with the Saints, Winston led them to a 6-4 record.

Winston is expected to start in Week 4 in place of Carr. The Saints also have the versatile Taysom Hill listed as their third-string quarterback. Hill, also rostered as a tight end, leads the Saints in rushing this season with 91 yards on 16 carries.

The Saints have been cursed at the quarterback position. Carr’s shoulder injury marks the fifth consecutive season in which a Saints starting quarterback went down with an injury. Drew Brees missed time in 2019 with a thumb injury and had broken ribs in 20220. Winston blew out his ACL in 2021 and had a foot and back injury in 2022.

Betting the Saints: NFC South Futures and Week 4

The Saints entered this season with depth issues at running back when two backups, including rookie Kendre Miller, went down with pre-season injuries. Jamaal Williams, who began the season as the starting running back, is on the IR with a hamstring injury.

The Saints await the return of Alvin Kamara. The former All-Pro running back served a three-game suspension for his involvement in a fight in Las Vegas. Kamara will suit up in Week 4 for his first game of the season.

The Saints square off against the Bucs in a fierce NFC South divisional battle on Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans. Both teams are 2-1 and are tied for first place with the Atlanta Falcons. The Carolina Panthers are the only winless team in the division at 0-3.

Even with an injury to Carr, the Saints opened as -4.5 favorites against the visiting Bucs. The Bucs are 2-1 against the point spread, while the Saints have a 0-2-1 ATS record.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to two consecutive wins to start the season before the Philadelphia Eagles blew them out on Monday Night Football in Week 3.

The Saints didn’t see any drastic changes to the futures market after Carr’s injury and are currently +3000 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII and +1800 odds to win the NFC Championship.

In NFC South futures, the Saints are +125 odds to win the division. They’re the betting favorite ahead of the Falcons (+165), Bucs (+320), and the winless Panthers (+3500).

The Saints are -185 odds to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and they’re +150 odds to miss the postseason, according to a prop bet by DraftKings.