In what was already a challenging day for the New Orleans Saints, matters took a turn for the worse as quarterback Derek Carr left Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings prematurely.
During the third quarter, Carr released a pass but found himself on the receiving end of a formidable hit from Vikings defensive linemen Danielle Hunter and Jaquelin Roy. Despite initially getting back on his feet after spending several minutes on the field, Carr’s day took a more ominous turn when he was eventually carted to the locker room following an evaluation in the blue medical tent.
The quarterback was swiftly ruled out due to a shoulder injury, with an additional assessment conducted for a potential concussion. Notably, this shoulder injury is the same one Carr suffered an AC joint sprain to earlier in the season against the Green Bay Packers.
Stepping in for the injured Carr, Jameis Winston promptly made an impact, guiding the Saints to a touchdown and a two-point conversion. This sequence narrowed Minnesota’s lead to 27-11 in the third quarter. Winston, the backup quarterback, had previously appeared in three games for the Saints before this crucial matchup.
As the Saints grapple with Carr’s injury setback, the remainder of the game and the subsequent weeks will undoubtedly test the team’s resilience, with Winston likely taking on an expanded role in Carr’s absence.