Saints QB Derek Carr injures right shoulder in loss to Packers
In a dramatic turn of events, the New Orleans Saints faced a setback in their game against the Green Bay Packers as quarterback Derek Carr was sidelined with a shoulder injury during the fourth quarter of their 18-17 loss in Green Bay.
Following the game, Coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Carr was undergoing an evaluation of his right shoulder at a local hospital, but he refrained from divulging further specifics regarding the injury.
The reins of the game were handed over to backup quarterback Jameis Winston after Carr’s departure. Remarkably, the Saints held a commanding 17-0 lead when Carr exited the contest, only to witness a stunning turn of events as they allowed the Packers to score 18 points in the fourth quarter, resulting in a heart-wrenching 18-17 defeat.
Carr’s injury occurred in the third quarter when he took a hard hit following a sack on third-and-9 with 10:51 remaining in the quarter. He remained on the field for a brief period as medical personnel attended to his shoulder, eventually making his way to the sideline under his own strength. Subsequently, Carr entered the locker room for further evaluation, including X-rays on his shoulder, as reported by the Fox broadcast. Shortly thereafter, he was labeled as questionable to return, but ultimately, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Before the injury, Carr had completed 13 of 18 passes for 103 yards and contributed a touchdown to the team’s efforts.
It’s worth noting that Jameis Winston, who had initially signed on as the Saints’ backup, had taken a pay cut to remain with the team after Carr’s acquisition in free agency. Winston had started the 2021 and 2022 seasons as the intended starter but had been unable to complete either season in that role. In 2021, his season concluded prematurely due to a torn ACL, while in 2022, he was sidelined after four games due to back and foot injuries, failing to reclaim his starting position from Andy Dalton.
In a further blow to the Saints’ lineup, Carr became the second player ruled out on that fateful Sunday, with guard Cesar Ruiz departing the game early due to a concussion.
