New Orleans Saints fans were dealt an unfortunate blow on Friday when it was reported that quarterback Derek Carr could potentially miss the 2025 season with a shoulder injury.
Carr missed seven games last season while suffering oblique and hand injuries, forcing the Saints to play both Jake Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler, who combined for 1,542 yards passing, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. New Orleans did not win a game with Carr out of the lineup.
And though Carr’s injury news may have come as a surprise to Saints fans, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the team had actually been bracing for it.
“Derek Carr’s shoulder development did not come as a surprise to the Saints,” Russini tweeted. “Surgery is being contemplated as both sides analyze next steps for player and franchise. Carr carries a $20.4M cap hit in 2025.”
Carr was a top trending topic on social media Friday evening, with some questioning the timing of his injury report given the Saints hosted Louisville passer Tyler Shough on Friday and the 2025 draft is a little over two weeks away.
Russini even added that she’s heard from some of her NFL sources that there’s even some conjecture about whether the Saints are telling the full story about Carr’s situation.
“There are many around the league wondering if there is more to this story…,” Russini added.
There are many around the league wondering if there is more to this story… https://t.co/nrkvznGr2e
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 12, 2025
“What exactly are you implying by this? That he'll be cut, that the injury isn't real, or what?” one fan asked.
“Doesn’t make sense. Carr was just looking for trade partners. Why would he do that if he couldn’t pass a physical? This injury likely isn’t real or happened AFTER the season. Saints should void the contract,” another fan stated.
“How does this get out so close to the draft?” a third fan questioned.
“Sounds oddly suspicious timing,” remarked one user.
“Here’s the story. They are tanking for Arch Manning,” another user quipped.
“I literally said the same thing, this does NOT pass the smell test one bit,” declared one fan.
Some draft analysts were already convinced the Saints were considering drafting a quarterback before Carr’s injury, and now using their No. 9 overall pick on a signal-caller seems like their likeliest first-round option later this month.
If the Saints do target a QB in the draft, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders seems like the most logical choice if he’s still on the board. Shough and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart could also be options if the team either trades back out of the top 10 or trades back into the first round.
