Category: Derek Carr

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including Saints QB Derek Carr) ranked by passer rating after Week 15

Where does Derek Carr rank in passer rating around the league? Here are all 32 starting quarterbacks after Week 15:

Derek Carr played his best football yet for the New Orleans Saints in Week 15’s win over the New York Giants, so how does that boost his standing around the league?

Carr has dealt with some injuries this season but he hasn’t missed a start, and his 448 pass attempts are the 13th-most in the NFL after 14 games.

With the Saints set to kick off Week 16 on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, here’s a look at all 32 quarterbacks who started in Week 15 ranked by passer rating, including Carr:

NFL quarterbacks by Total QBR: Where Saints’ Derek Carr ranks in Week 15

NFL quarterbacks by Total QBR: Where Saints’ Derek Carr ranks going into Week 15

We’re off and running towards Week 15 with the New Orleans Saints (6-7) hosting the New York Giants (5-8) in what may be a pivotal game for the NFC playoff standings; the race for the final wild card seed is intense and the Giants could usurp the Saints with a win, putting all of New Orleans’ postseason hopes on winning the worst division in pro football.

And so much of their fortunes are tied to Derek Carr. The $150 million quarterback has not played well in his first season in black and gold, as evidenced by ESPN’s Total QBR rating, a metric that “values the quarterback on all play types on a 0-100 scale adjusted for the strength of opposing defenses faced.”

It’s about as comprehensive as it gets for evaluating quarterback play. And here’s where it has Carr stacked up against qualifying passers from around the NFL:

Why did the Saints’ second-string offense take the field for Week 14’s victory formation?

Why did the Saints’ second-string offense take the field for Week 14’s victory formation?

Keen-eyed New Orleans Saints fans picked up on something odd about their team’s end-of-game sequence against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It was Jameis Winston, not Derek Carr, taking a knee on the final two snaps to run out the clock and seal their lopsided 28-6 victory. The second-string offense filled in with Winston at quarterback, Trevor Penning and Landon Young at the tackle spots, and Max Garcia snapping from center.

And what’s the deal with that? Why wasn’t Carr out there? Head coach Dennis Allen was asked about the decision on Monday by Locked On Saints host Ross Jackson.

As Allen tells it, the Saints “Just have Jameis” taking those snaps without a specific reason in mind. As Jackson observed, Winston has kneeled out the clock in Weeks 5 and 13 this season with Carr staying in for Weeks 1, 2, and 8.

Let’s look at those scores. The Saints led by margins of 1, 3, and 11 points in the games Carr led the victory formation. Winston’s number was called when the Saints had leads of 34 and 22 points. So they hadn’t shut the starters down in the games when Carr was still under center late in regulation, which helps explain why he was still in the game and Winston wasn’t. Winston has had the nod once the Saints were comfortably ahead by multiple touchdowns with time on their side.

That isn’t too unusual. Other teams pull their starters in similar situations. But it’s frustrating for Saints fans to see Winston closing out games and not getting opportunities to play when Carr isn’t cutting the mustard; there’s a growing chorus second-guessing Allen’s decision to ride with Carr when the high-priced veteran is struggling to make throws and openly feuding with teammates during games. Those voices won’t go away after an unconvincing win like this, but Allen and the Saints are going to point to the scoreboard to try and deafen them anyway.

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Saints aren’t eager to explain in-game squabble between Derek Carr, Erik McCoy

The Saints are brushing off a squabble between Derek Carr and Erik McCoy. Dennis Allen says he ‘wouldn’t read too much into’ the heated altercation:

A lot happened in the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — both good and bad. But nothing caught fans’ attention more than the late-game altercation between quarterback Derek Carr and center Erik McCoy.

Carr picked himself up off the ground in a fury after being sacked by Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, who beat right guard Cesar Ruiz to bowl Carr over as he dropped back to pass. Carr took aim at McCoy after the play, who responded in kind, and the pair had to be separated. Left guard James Hurst walled off McCoy as they returned to the sideline where backup quarterback Jameis Winston corralled Carr.

Other veterans on the team like running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. bridged the gap, and the pair eventually hashed things out together on the bench. The offense rallied to close out a 28-6 win. But there were few people in the locker room willing to discuss the incident after the game, including head coach Dennis Allen.

“These kinds of things happen on the field. I’m glad that both of them had the balls to stand up and fight,” Allen said after the game. “Guys, they get pissed. Sometimes things get emotional. I wouldn’t read too much into it. We addressed it. Let’s move on.”

Dustups do happen in pro football, but it’s unusual to see a franchise quarterback going back and forth like this with his center. The two players who touch the football on every single play should be in sync, and they clearly weren’t. Whether Carr misidentified the middle linebacker to set protection before the snap or McCoy failed to help Ruiz pick up the blitz is unclear, and they’re all more interested in moving forward than dwelling on it.

Both McCoy and Carr brushed over the issue after the game, reiterating Allen’s point that these things happen, they’re good now, and there are no divisions splitting the locker room apart (WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak shared transcripts from their postgame media availability here if you’d like to read full comments). So we aren’t likely to get any real resolution on the record any time soon.

Still: it’s near-impossible to watch this team each week, pay attention when guys are speaking on camera and into microphones, and not come away feeling that something isn’t right. Players and coaches and front office executives are not in lockstep and that discord is reflected in their losing record. Hopefully they can mend fences, build on this win, and work towards a run at the NFC South crown. There’s too much invested in these players and this coaching staff to settle for less.

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Saints use NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023

The Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch:

It’s taken longer than maybe expected, but the New Orleans Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch. He was listed with the emergency quarterback designation for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

But it’ll have to be an emergency. Haener will be wearing his uniform and have his helmet in case he’s needed, unlike the other inactive players this week, but he can only get into the game if both Derek Carr and Jameis Winston are unable to play due to injuries. Carr is returning from a concussion with an injured rib and banged-up throwing shoulder. He’s had to exit three games this year with injuries and in each case Winston has has gotten the nod to lead the huddle.

And, just in case you missed it, Haener switched from his No. 14 jersey to the No. 3 worn after the preseason once Wil Lutz was traded to the Denver Broncos. The rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Fresno State has not appeared in a game for the Saints this season; in preseason, he completed 38 of 72 passes for 395 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, taking two sacks.

So why now? Taysom Hill is inactive after suffering injuries to his foot and non-throwing hand a week ago, which means the Saints are down to just three quarterbacks, not four — satisfying the letter of the rule. It’s unlikely Haener will hit the field on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome, but he’ll be ready if the Saints need to call his number.

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Derek Carr clears concussion protocol, will start vs. Panthers

Derek Carr has cleared concussion protocol, per multiple reports, and will start for the Saints on Sunday against the Panthers:

He’s still listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, but New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to start against Carolina. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported news of Carr passing protocol, which was confirmed by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.

Carr is also dealing with an injured rib and right shoulder — having suffered an AC joint sprain earlier this year — but by all accounts the Saints plan on having him out there. This comes in the wake of his second concussion in three weeks.

Should Carr be playing, even if doctors (including an independent specialist) have given him the green light? That’s debatable. These brain injuries can’t be underestimated and suffering two of them so close together could have long-term impacts. The Saints re-signed Jameis Winston and drafted Jake Haener for situations like this, and they should be able to take care of business against the one-win Panthers with a backup quarterback. But Carr is determined to play and the Saints aren’t going to stop him.

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Saints shouldn’t rule out an early-round quarterback because of Derek Carr

The Saints shouldn’t rule out an early-round quarterback because of Derek Carr. His injuries, age, and performance make it a priority:

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has left many fans frustrated with his play on the field. That is the reason many fans want the Saints to draft a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft. A recent Pro Football Focus mock draft connected the Saints to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. It doesn’t seem the coaches are as frustrated. Still, the front office should feel compelled to draft a quarterback early because of Carr’s mounting injuries.

This year, Carr has suffered two concussions, injured his shoulder on two separate occasions and added a rib injury to the list this past weekend. Carr hasn’t been injured this often before. Carr is 32 and will turn 33 in March. This could be an aberration, but it very well could be a sign of things to come.

Injuries aside, 33 years old is not young in the NFL, even if Mickey Loomis would like to say it is. The pairing of Derek Carr and Dennis Allen may still be present in 2024, but the Saints should not rule out drafting a quarterback early. Age and health have to be factors just like player performance. A rookie quarterback can sit for a season and learn the game, but having the young franchise quarterback in the building will make a transition easier to life after Carr.

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Dennis Allen shares injury update on Saints quarterback Derek Carr

Dennis Allen shared an injury update on Saints quarterback Derek Carr, saying Jameis Winston will start in Week 14 if Carr can’t play:

What’s the latest on Derek Carr? The New Orleans Saints quarterback was rocked on a big hit from his former teammate Bruce Irvin during Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, exiting the game with what was described as back and shoulder injuries, plus a concussion.

Saints coach Dennis Allen updated Carr’s status on Monday after the training staff had time to fully evaluate him. Allen said that while Carr’s shoulder checked out (he had previously suffered an AC joint sprain this season), his back issue was really more of a rib injury, and Carr will be entering concussion protocol for the second time in less than a month.

“We’ll evaluate him as we go throughout the week to see what his availability will be,” for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, Allen said.

It sounds like a long shot for Carr to recover from these injuries in time for kickoff. He’s been knocked out of three different games this season and brain injuries can’t be overlooked, especially a series of them happening so close together like this. So if Carr can’t suit up, it’ll be Jameis Winston in the starting lineup, not Taysom Hill or Jake Haener.

Allen explained: “There’s a reason (Winston is) here as our backup and if Derek is not able to go, the plan right now would be Jameis would be in there and we’d put a plan together that gives him an opportunity to have success.”

Winston has gone 6-4 as the Saints’ starting quarterback across 10 games from 2021 to 2022, and he’s one of the better-qualified backups around the league. But his limitations on Sunday in relief of Carr were clear; he threw a dangerous pass that was tipped by the defense and saved by Chris Olave, and all three of his final pass attempts fell incomplete during the Saints’ last possession. As Allen said, they had their reasons for bringing him back as Carr’s backup, but there are reasons they went looking for a new starter, too. To this point Carr hasn’t proven he was the right choice.

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Derek Carr entered concussion protocol, dealing with back and shoulder injuries

Derek Carr entered concussion protocol, dealing with back and shoulder injuries

Derek Carr was banged up on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints quarterback took a big hit from Detroit Lions linebacker Bruce Irvin that drew a foul, but the damage was done. After receiving assistant from the Saints medical staff, Carr left the field and didn’t return.

Afterwards head coach Dennis Allen confirmed what the team had previously announced: Carr entered concussion protocol and underwent evaluation for injuries to his shoulder and back. It’s the second time this season Carr has gone into league concussion protocol, and this is the third time he’s dealt with a shoulder injury. Allen declined to specify whether that’s the same AC joint sprain Carr suffered earlier this year and aggravated a few weeks ago.

Allen also said they wouldn’t consider shutting Carr down after this recurring shoulder injury, as was the case last season when Jameis Winston suffered damage to several vertebrae in his lower back. When pressed on the topic Allen only responded that it’s a different situation.

The Saints are playing at home the next two weeks against the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, so they won’t have to ask Carr to fly cross-country with his injuries. But the question remains whether he’ll be able to return to the starting lineup in time for next Sunday’s game with Carolina. If he can’t go, Winston is likely getting the starting nod with Taysom Hill playing his usual role and Jake Haener backing him up, but we’ll have to wait and see for sure.

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Derek Carr injured on a big hit by Lions pass rusher Bruce Irvin

Derek Carr was injured on a big hit by Lions pass rusher Bruce Irvin, with Jameis Winston entering to replace him:

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr was rocked on a big hit from Detroit Lions defender Bruce Irvin, and he had to leave the game with assistance from the training staff. Irvin was fouled for roughing the passer on the play. A trainer’s cart initially came out to ferry Carr to the locker room but he waved it off to leave under his own power.

It’s the third time this year Carr has left the game with an injury; he was knocked out of losses to the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings with injuries to his throwing shoulder and a concussion. The nature of this injury and whether he’ll be able to return late in the fourth quarter is unclear. Jameis Winston is filling in for him. Stay tuned.

Update: The Saints announced that Carr was doubtful to return after entering concussion protocol and receiving treatment for back and shoulder injuries.

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