Derek Carr injury update: Saints reveal QB's status for Week 9 vs. Panthers

New Orleans Saints (2-6) quarterback Derek Carr is off Friday’s injury report and will start Sunday’s Week 9 road tilt against the Carolina Panthers (1-7).

Carr, 33, has missed the last three games with an oblique injury he sustained in the 28-13 Week 5 road defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs (7-0). He returned to practice Wednesday and taken part in each session this week.

The Saints got off to a hot start with Carr under center, putting up 91 points in the Week 1 and Week 2 victories over the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys (3-4). New Orleans has since dropped six games in a row, scoring just 94 points during the skid.

2024 fifth round pick Spencer Rattler started the last three games in Carr’s absence. Head coach Dennis Allen benched Rattler in favor of Jake Haener in the third quarter of this past Sunday’s 26-8 Week 8 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3). Rattler and Haener combined to throw for two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Derek Carr: ‘I am no savior’

In five games this season, Carr has thrown for 989 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions on 70.3% passing. Carr said Wednesday he’s not looking to be a savior for the struggling Saints squad.

“I am no savior,” Carr said Wednesday, via Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “There’s only been one of those and that is not me. I am here to be a great leader and to be a great teammate and to do my job the best of my ability. Do I feel confident in what I can do? Absolutely. I feel confident in what I can do.

“I feel confident in what I can bring to our team. And that’s exciting. But to save us or anything like that, that’s not me.”

Carr makes his return against a Carolina team which is riding a five-game losing streak.