Saints’ Derek Carr Says He's "No Savior" as He Returns for Week 9 Game Against Panthers
The New Orleans Saints are looking to bounce back as quarterback Derek Carr is expected to return from an oblique injury for the team's Week 9 game against the Carolina Panthers. Carr, who helped lead the Saints to a promising start in the early part of the season, missed three games during which New Orleans has struggled, accumulating six consecutive losses.
Carr, 33, tempered expectations ahead of Sunday's matchup, addressing suggestions that his return could "save" the Saints' season. “I am no savior,” Carr remarked on Wednesday, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. “There's only been one of those, and that is not me. I am here to be a great leader and to be a great teammate and to do my job, the best of my ability." Carr further expressed confidence in his ability to contribute, stating, “I feel confident in what I can do. I feel confident in what I can bring to our team... But to save us or anything like that, that's not me.”
The Saints appeared strong in the season's opening games, scoring a combined 91 points and securing a 2-0 start. However, the momentum slowed as the team subsequently dropped three games with Carr, including a tough Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs where he sustained an injury in the fourth quarter. In Carr's absence, fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler took over the offense, but the team has struggled, putting up only 18 points across their last two games and ranking last in the league in EPA/play since Week 6.
Reflecting on his time sidelined, Carr explained the frustration of not being able to play through the injury. “It sucks having to sit there and watch when it wasn't the most painful thing I've ever dealt with," Carr noted. "It was just a lack of being able to do my job… 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."
Looking ahead to Sunday, head coach Dennis Allen confirmed that second-year quarterback Jake Haener will be Carr's backup over Rattler. “My expectation is that Derek's going to be ready to go,” Allen said, emphasizing his belief in the current plan. The Saints won their first meeting against the Panthers this season in Week 1 with a decisive 47-10 score.
Before his injury, Carr completed 70.3% of his passes, totaling 989 yards and eight touchdowns against four interceptions. Now, with Carr back in the lineup, New Orleans aims to reestablish its early-season form and return to the win column.
