In a recent update from New Orleans Saints’ head coach Dennis Allen, it has been revealed that quarterback Derek Carr has suffered a sprained right AC joint. This injury has placed Carr in a week-to-week status, indicating his uncertain availability for upcoming games, as reported on Monday.
While Coach Allen did not definitively rule out Carr’s participation in the upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources close to the team have suggested that the Saints will exercise caution with their quarterback. It would be quite unexpected if Carr were to take the field in the following week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In the event that Carr is unable to play, Jameis Winston, who formerly played for the Buccaneers, would step in as the starting quarterback against his former team.
Coach Allen shared that Carr reported feeling better on Monday morning and emphasized that his condition would be closely monitored throughout the week. Allen stated, “We’re not making any decisions today; we’re not ruling anything out. We’ll see where he’s at as the week goes on.”
The precise grade of Carr’s sprain was not disclosed by Coach Allen, who did mention that Carr’s condition had improved noticeably from the previous day. The decision regarding Carr’s playing status will likely hinge on his pain tolerance and his ability to effectively perform on the field. Allen emphasized that playing through the injury is not expected to increase the risk of further harm, stating, “I don’t think it’s a further risk of injury. It’s ‘can you function and do your job?'”
Carr sustained the injury during the third quarter of the Saints’ recent 18-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The injury occurred when he was sacked and landed forcefully on his shoulder. After a brief period on the field, Carr was attended to by athletic trainers and briefly visited the medical tent on the sideline before leaving the game. Following the game, he underwent X-rays at a local hospital but returned with the team later on Sunday.
In Carr’s absence, Jameis Winston stepped in and completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards. He managed to lead the team 47 yards down the field to the Green Bay 34 in the final three minutes of the game. However, the Saints’ hopes of victory were dashed as kicker Blake Grupe missed a potential game-winning field goal.
Coach Allen mentioned that the team’s overall approach did not change significantly with Winston under center, but he did express the need for improved protection while not directly attributing the injury to the team’s struggling offensive line. Allen noted, “I think that was the one play I felt like he kind of hung on to [the ball] too long.
