The Saints suddenly have a major QB question: Starter Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for this season, sources say.

Carr is weighing options, including the possibility of surgery.

Related Players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, Ben DiNucci

If Carr is legitimately questionable for the 2025 season, the Saints' first and second round picks could go in far different directions than they are currently projected. As it stands before the NFL Draft, we would assume that Rattler is going to be the temporary name atop the depth chart as we wait to see how this plays out for Carr and his shoulder.

A new head coach doesn't appear to mean a new starting quarterback in New Orleans.

After several talks with Derek Carr about his 2025 compensation, the Saints are converting most of his salary this year into a signing bonus, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Saturday.

Considering Carr is now set to make his full $40 million salary in 2025, Garafolo added that New Orleans' conversion indicates the team intends to move forward with him as QB1 for the upcoming season.

Related Players: Spencer Rattler

The offense was quite disappointing in 2024, but there's no denying they dealt with plenty of health issues, as well. Carr will bring some stability while New Orleans looks to build around Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, and Rashid Shaheed once again.

Saints ruled out RB Alvin Kamara and QB Derek Carr for Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders.

Related Players: Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims

Miller had an awful showing in his first "full-time" outing (8 rushes, 15 yards), so he'll look to turn things around here against the Raiders. Consider him in the RB30-35 range for Week 17.

The Saints ruled out QB Derek Carr and RB Alvin Kamara for Week 16 against the Packers.

Carr is still dealing with his hand injury while Kamara is dealing with a groin injury that is considered week-to-week. The Saints could choose to let Kamara rest for the remainder of the season but they have yet to place him on injured reserve. Kendre Miller will get the start and is an RB2 this week against the Packers.

Spencer Rattler will get the start at quarterback. It's unlikely Carr will return this season with the season all but lost at 5-9. Rattler is not a reliable fantasy option this week, though he did show more upside than Jake Haener in Week 15.

There’s some new reporting pouring cold water on Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s assertion that it’s not “a reach” to think Derek Carr will be cleared by the end of the season.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Carr is considered “very unlikely” to return this season.

This seemed like the most logical outcome, even when the Saints were not ruling Carr out for the season. Carr’s left hand is fractured in two places, the story pointed out. Rapoport also noted, via the story, that Carr recently underwent further examination, which determined he’s at least a few weeks away from withstanding contact.

The Saints officially listed QB Derek Carr (left hand/concussion) as doubtful for Sunday vs. Washington. Jake Haener will make his first NFL start.

RB Alvin Kamara (illness) is off the injury report and good to go.

Related Players: Kendre Miller

It would have been an easy click for a Kendre Miller week if Kamara were forced to miss, but this puts the kibosh on that. Fire Kamara up as an RB2 this week in a game that may feature him even more than usual with no Carr.

On Monday, Darren Rizzi confirmed that Carr is now in the concussion protocol while saying the hand injury is not something that will lead the Saints to rule him out for multiple weeks at this time.

“Derek’s dealing with a non-throwing hand injury,” Rizzi said. “As it stands at this moment, I don’t believe it’s going to be an IR situation, I think it’s going to be a week-to-week situation. We’re gonna kinda take this day by day this week. We’ll see how this week plays out. He is in the concussion protocol also so he’s gotta complete the first step of that tomorrow.”

Related players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener

We just reported Carr would likely miss the rest of the season, but the Saints weren't putting him on IR with the hope he could return this season. It looks like the week to week tag means Carr will at least miss this week, with a window open to play in Week 16. The Saints are expected to make a decision at QB for Week 15 on Tuesday.

Saints QB Derek Carr did, in fact, suffer a significant fracture in his non-throwing hand, per me and Tom Pelissero.

Related players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener

He’s expected to miss several weeks, Rapoport went on to say. And based on where we are in the season, this is almost certainly season-ending based on that timeline. The Saints will turn to either Haener or Rattler. The Saints also didn't put Carr on IR, at least not yet, according to Pro Football Talk, so they seem to be leaving the door open to a return this season. The Saints are expected to decide between Haener and Rattler on Tuesday, according to reports.

Saints QB Derek Carr is feared to have suffered a broken left (non-throwing) hand during Sunday’s game against the Giants.

Carr was attempting to run and dive for a first down during the fourth quarter when he suffered the injury. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi also said Carr was being evaluated for a concussion but did not confirm whether Carr was in the concussion protocol. Jake Haener took over and finished the game. The Saints are 5-8 but are only two games behind the 7-6 Buccaneers in the NFC South. We should know more about the injury and a potential timeline Monday.

Derek Carr was on a "little bit" of a pitch count for Wednesday's practice, but is still expected to start Sunday, Dennis Allen said.

Related Players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener

Good news for the Saints as they try to claw their way back into playoff talks. This would be great for Chris Olave, who has a very cushy matchup against the Panthers secondary this week.