New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr injured his right shoulder in the third quarter of the team’s 18-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Carr was sacked by Packers linebacker Preston Smith with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter. He landed hard on his shoulder and remained on the ground for several minutes. Carr was eventually helped to his feet and walked off the field under his own power, but he did not return to the game.
The Saints announced after the game that Carr had suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, but he was released later that evening.
The severity of Carr’s injury is not yet known, but it is a significant blow to the Saints. Carr is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and he is essential to the Saints’ success.
If Carr is forced to miss any time, the Saints will turn to backup quarterback Taysom Hill. Hill is a versatile player who can play quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. However, he has not started a game at quarterback since 2019.
The Saints will need to rely on their defense and running game if Carr is forced to miss any time. The Saints have a good defense, led by Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis. They also have a strong running game, led by Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. The Saints will play the Carolina Panthers next week. It is unclear whether Carr will be able to play in that game.