After missing three games with an oblique injury, Derek Carr is ready to return.
The New Orleans Saints expect Carr to start Sunday in their matchup against the Carolina Panthers, head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday. Jake Haener will serve as the backup despite rookie Spencer Rattler starting the final few games in Carr’s absence.
“We felt like Rattler gave us the best opportunity at the time, so I think we’ll see where we are this weekend, what the expectations are. My expectation is that Derek will be ready to go,” Allen said, . “In that case, Jake will be the substitute… I don’t want to go into the details of the reasons, but I feel like that’s what’s best for our team.”
earlier this month after taking a heavy hit near the end of that contest. He hasn’t played since, marking the longest period of time he has missed since breaking his ankle in 2017 while with the Raiders.
The Saints, who started the season 2-0 with a pair of blowout victories, haven’t won a game since. Rattler led the Saints to a 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first start, and the Saints will enter Sunday’s game in North Carolina on a six-game losing streak. It is the longest losing streak the team has had since 2005.
Carr has thrown for 989 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions while completing just over 70% of his passes in five games this season, his second with the Saints.
“I’m no savior. There’s only been one of those and that’s not me,” Carr said. “I’m here to be a great leader and a great teammate and do my job to the best of my ability. And I have confidence in What I can do? Absolutely. I’m confident in what I can do. I feel confident in what I can bring to our team. And that’s exciting, right. But to save us or something, that’s not me, I’m going to go in and do what my guys expect me to do, work hard, be a great teammate, encourage our guys, get everyone on the same page, work out the details and hold each other accountable.”
The Panthers, on the other hand, have a 1-7 record entering Sunday’s game. The Saints also beat the Panthers 47-10 in Week 1. Carolina said Wednesday that, as a veteran, he was in a car accident last week.