According to Matthew Paras and Jeff Duncan, Saints QB Derek Carr has not been in attendance for the start of OTAs in New Orleans.
Attendance at OTAs is voluntary and Carr is reportedly not healthy, as he’s considering having shoulder surgery that would knock him out for the rest of the 2025 season.
Yet this is just the latest sign that all is not well between the Saints and their supposed starting quarterback.
Duncan and Paras add that Carr has not been in the team building to rehab his shoulder, which they note, per a source, is an old injury that didn’t heal properly.
It’s still not clear when the Saints were informed about how serious the injury could be. Duncan and Paras point out Saints HC Kellen Moore has given no public indication that he didn’t expect Carr to be the starter this season or to be in attendance for OTAs.
“Derek, I’m excited to have him back with us really shortly,” Moore said at the league owners meetings a couple of weeks ago. “Obviously, April 14th will start, and I think that’s the fun part. These guys go through the offseason. They have a chance to spend time with their family, invest in all that, which is the right thing to do. And once you kind of get back, April 14th, you begin the process. Football’s in the fold, and it’ll be a great process.”
Carr, 34, is a former second-round pick of the Raiders back in 2014. He was in the final year of his contract when the Raiders signed him to a five-year, $125 million extension that included $70 million guaranteed in 2017.
Carr stood to make a base salary of $19.77 million in the final year of his contract and was set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2023 when he signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension.
However, the Raiders released Carr the following season and he signed a four-year, $150 million deal with the Saints.
He’s due a base salary of $40 million and $50 million in total in the final year of his contract in 2026.
In 2024, Carr appeared in ten games for the Saints and completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions.
We’ll have more on Carr and the Saints as the news becomes available.
Carr’s 2024 Season Was a Mess
Last season did not go well for Carr. He missed seven games with a mix of injuries. First, it was a torn oblique. Then, a fractured non-throwing hand. Later, he got a concussion. Every time he seemed to be on the mend, something else happened. He kept trying to tough it out, but anyone who watched him could tell he was not himself. His throws lost velocity. His timing felt off. The offense never found a steady rhythm.
Now the focus is on his shoulder, and this injury might be the most serious one yet. Reports say he is considering surgery. That would mean a long recovery. If he skips surgery and tries to rehab it, there is a real risk of re-injury or long-term damage. Neither option is great. The Saints are left trying to plan around a quarterback who might not be available when the season starts.
The Saints Need To Make a Call
Earlier this offseason, the Saints restructured Carr’s contract. It looked like they were all in on him as their starter. But now everything is different. They hold the ninth pick in the upcoming draft. That is early enough to grab a top quarterback prospect. Names like Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart have started popping up in draft rumors.
The front office is in a tricky position. Carr is respected and experienced. He has led teams before and still has the locker room behind him. But the NFL does not wait for anyone. If the team believes there is even a small chance Carr misses time, they need to be ready. Drafting a quarterback could give them insurance. It might even give them a long-term replacement if things go south.
It is not about turning the page right now. It is about protecting the team’s future. Betting everything on a recovering shoulder is a gamble most teams would not take.
What Comes Next Is Unclear
Carr has always been a fighter. Nobody doubts that. He has dealt with injuries and setbacks before. But shoulder problems are different. For a quarterback, it can mean the difference between a clean spiral and a wobbly duck. The Saints cannot just hope things work out. They need a plan they can count on.
Right now, everything is up in the air. If Carr has surgery, he could miss months. If he does not and still cannot perform, the team is back at square one. That is why this offseason has suddenly become so important. The Saints have to think about more than just next season. They must consider where this team is headed in the next few years.
Carr might still come back and lead the team. But at this moment, nothing is guaranteed. And when it comes to the NFL, waiting too long to act can cost you a whole lot more than just a few games.
