Report: Saints QB Derek Carr (oblique) out multiple games

The New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback, Derek Carr, sustained an oblique injury during Monday's defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs and will be absent for at least the next two games, as reported by NFL Network on Tuesday.

Carr, aged 33, is expected to miss the upcoming home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) and the following Thursday's home match against the Denver Broncos (3-2), according to the report.

In his second season with the Saints (2-3), Carr has completed 90 of his 128 pass attempts (70.3 percent) for 989 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. The four-time Pro Bowl selection, a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2014, spent his first nine seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas franchise and has thrown for 40,089 yards with 250 touchdowns and 111 interceptions in 164 games (all starts).

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NFL Network also reported on Tuesday that 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler is a "strong candidate" to fill in while Carr is sidelined.

Rattler, aged 24, has yet to make an appearance in an NFL game. In the preseason, the former Oklahoma and South Carolina QB completed 20 of 38 attempts for 202 yards and a touchdown with a 76.9 passer rating.

In 48 games over five college seasons, Rattler completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 10,807 yards and 77 touchdowns with 32 interceptions. He rushed for 16 touchdowns and 410 yards and also caught a touchdown.

Jake Haener, who is listed as New Orleans' co-No. 2 quarterback alongside Rattler, replaced Carr on Monday night and finished 2-of-7 passing for 17 yards. The 25-year-old Haener, a fourth-round pick by the Saints in 2023, threw one pass over two other appearances this season in his only NFL action.

In four college seasons at Washington and Fresno State, Haener completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 9,120 yards, 68 TDs and 18 interceptions in 33 games. He also ran for eight scores.

"The name of the game is to get completions and to move the ball down the field," Haener told reporters after Monday's game. "People don't really care who's in there and who's doing it. ... The expectation is to move the ball down the field and score.

"If I've got to start next week, that's going to be the same expectation. The reality is no one cares. We've got to focus on what we have."

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After averaging 45.5 points in season-opening wins over the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys, the Saints have gone 0-3 and scored a total of 49 points.