The New Orleans Saints faced a tough road matchup against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, and things took a turn for the worse when quarterback Derek Carr left the game due to an oblique injury. Carr, who had managed to throw two touchdowns and one interception before his exit, was listed as questionable to return but ultimately stayed sidelined for the rest of the game.
“Derek Carr (oblique) is questionable to return,” the Saints confirmed via their official post.
In Carr’s absence, the Saints turned to rookie backup quarterback Jake Haener, a fourth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft. This marked Haener’s first real stint in an NFL game, but he struggled against the Chiefs’ formidable defense. The Saints couldn’t rally, and Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to a 26-13 victory, improving their record to a perfect 5-0 while dropping the Saints to 2-3.
Carr’s stat line before the injury read 18 completions on 28 attempts for 165 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Haener’s performance in relief was less effective, completing just 2 of 7 passes for 17 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The severity of Carr’s injury remains uncertain, but early signs point to a potential setback for the Saints. Katherine Terrell reported Carr’s concerning reaction post-game, quoting him as saying he felt “not good” and that he couldn’t perform even basic movements. Trainers informed him that there was not enough time to treat the injury during the game.
Haener’s limited game experience was evident, and while the young quarterback may show promise in the future, he’s not yet ready to take the reins as the team’s leader.
Looking ahead, the Saints face a quick turnaround as they prepare to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a critical divisional matchup on Sunday. With the NFC South wide open, the Saints desperately need Carr healthy to remain competitive. Saints fans are anxiously hoping their starting QB can recover in time for this pivotal showdown. If Carr’s injury sidelines him for an extended period, the team could face an uphill battle in the division race.
