After it was announced Derek Carr had a shoulder injury that put his season in jeopardy, all focus pivoted towards the future. The New Orleans Saints drafted Tyler Shough in the first round of the NFL draft, and there's an expectation he and Spencer Rattler will battle to be the starting quarterback in Kellen Moore's debut season. The cloud of Derek Carr's uncertain future lingered over the team.
NFL Network's Jane Slater is providing more clarity on the situation. Possibly the biggest statement she made is the Saints will have a decision on Carr's future with the team "will be made here sooner rather than later."
Derek Carr's injury timeline
A big question around the injury was when did Carr sustain the injury. It was previously reported the injury stemmed from a 2023 AC joint injury. That didn't help quiet the murmurs of the injury being fake. Slater gave what feels like the most likely time of injury, last season against the New York Giants.
It was that game where Carr tried to jump over Giants defenders and took a hit that ultimately ended his season. Slater didn't specify that moment, but the belief is Carr injured his throwing shoulder in that game.
So why are we only finding out now? Carr was injured and held out for the remainder of the season after the Giants game due to an injury to his left wrist. Slater reports Carr was unaware of the shoulder injury until he tried to throw the football full speed in the spring. At that point, he realized something was wrong.
Saints trying to figure out Carr's next steps
In the time since the injury was announced, there has been no progress on if Carr will get surgery or not. There is an opportunity to heal the injury without surgery. It's the approach the quarterback would prefer to take because "he has already had surgery before on that arm." That route isn't completely off the table, though.
Carr has been notably away from New Orleans the entire offseason, but he has been to the facilities twice in recent weeks to meet with team doctors. As it currently stands, both sides are trying figure out what is best for them. That likely means Carr deciding on surgery, and the Saints deciding whether to keep him on the roster.
The acquisition of Shough seems like foreshadowing, The Saints have made their decision on the future, and as the cliche goes, "there's no time like the present." Pushing forward with a young quarterback in 2026 was always the most likely result. You have Shough and Rattler sitting right in front of you now. This feels like the moment to lean into your future. Don't wait a year and delay the inevitable.