Saints QB Derek Carr ruled out early in loss to Vikings with concussion, shoulder injury
Jameis Winston replaced Carr on Sunday afternoon, and quickly completed a wild touchdown to Chris Olave
New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr was ruled out of the Saints' 27-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon due to a concussion and a shoulder injury.
Carr had stepped up through the pocket and got a pass off to Chris Olave in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium when Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter drilled him hard from the side. Carr's head and shoulder hit the turf hard.
Carr walked off to the medical tent after the hit, but was later carted off the field. Jameis Winson replaced Carr the rest of the way.
Derek Carr is headed to the blue tent.
Jameis Winston is in at QB. pic.twitter.com/HpRXOUyIr9— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 12, 2023
The Saints ruled Carr out officially with a right shoulder injury and a concussion. Specifics about those injuries are not yet known.
Carr finished the day throwing 13-of-18 for 110 yards. The Saints were down 27-3 when he went down. Winston completed the drive with a ridiculous touchdown grab from Olave in the corner of the end zone.
Jameis throws it up to Chris Olave ‼️
Unreal catch.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/QLke4DsTRU— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 12, 2023
That, along with the two-point conversion, cut the Vikings’ lead to 16 points.
The deficit fell to a single possession early in the fourth quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass to A.T. Perry and another two-point conversion. That, though, was as close as the Saints got.
The Vikings held on and intercepted Winston twice late to take the eight-point win.
Winston went 13-of-25 for 122 yards with the two touchdowns and two interceptions. Alvin Kamara had 42 rushing yards on nine carries, and Olave had 94 yards and a touchdown on six catches.
Joshua Dobbs, making his first start for the Vikings, went 23-of-34 for 268 yards and a touchdown. Dobbs also rushed for 44 yards and a TD on eight carries. Ty Chandler had 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and T.J. Hockenson had 134 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches.
Carr entered the day with 2,121 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, his first with the Saints after spending nine seasons of his career with the Raiders. The 32-year-old is in the first season of a four-year, $150 million deal with the Saints.
While it’s unclear how long Carr will be sidelined, the Saints have their bye next week, which should give him extra time to recover. The Saints will take on the Atlanta Falcons next on Nov. 26.