5 emergency QB options if the Saints lose Derek Carr to injury in 2023
- Cam Newton could spell relief if needed
- Teddy Bridgewater is a viable option
- Carson Wentz would be good in an emergency situation
By Randy Gurzi
Heading into 2023, the New Orleans Saints know they have a great shot at winning the NFC South thanks to the acquisition of Derek Carr. They believe they have the pieces around him to make some noise but as is the case with most teams, those chances plummet if something happens to the starting quarterback.
Should that happen with the Saints, here are five emergency options to keep from having a lost season in 2023.
5. Matt Ryan
New Orleans fans know that Matt Ryan has had a lot of success in the NFL. The No. 3 overall selection in 2008, Ryan spent 14 seasons with the Saints' rival, the Atlanta Falcons. In that span, he led them to a record of 120-102 and nearly won a Super Bowl.
However, the last time he was on the field, things were rough for Ryan. He spent 2022 with the Indianapolis Colts and was just 4-7-1 with them. While we can bash him for this, the fact is, they were 0-5 without him — so an argument can be made that he was the only reason they won any games at all.
What can't be argued is that Ryan looked like he lost a step and it's probably a good time for him to hang up the cleats. He's nearly done so, as he elected to join CBS but he's refused to officially retire just yet.
Perhaps that means he could decide to come back in the right situation and a dome team with a strong running game could be the right situation. Plus, he might be able to get some revenge on Atlanta since he can't be happy with how things ended there.