New Orleans Saints Quarterback Derek Carr Injury Update

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr endured another frightening collision in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but his injuries may not be as severe as initially feared. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the four-time Pro Bowler is hopeful he'll be ready to return following the Saints' Week 11 bye.

#Saints QB Derek Carr, who left today’s game with a concussion and shoulder injury, is hopeful to be able to return after the bye — which comes next week, the perfect time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 12, 2023

Carr exited early in today's game following a jarring hit just before halftime. He was in visible pain on the field and was promptly declared out with head and shoulder injuries. Jameis Winston replaced him in the second half, eventually completing 13 of 25 passes for 122 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Carr has already suffered a number of concerning hits this season, his first with the Saints. He was forced from Week 3's 18-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers with an AC joint sprain. He made a surprising return in time for Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but struggled in a 26-9 loss.

Carr has had an up-and-down season with the Saints, but he remains their best bet at pushing for the playoffs. At 5-5, the Saints are in the lead for the NFC South division crown, and Carr is still a marked upgrade over Winston, whose career interception rate of 3.4% is nearly triple the 1.3% mark Carr is averaging this year. If Carr can come back healthy and keep his offense average for the remainder of the season, the Saints will have a great chance to host a playoff game.