Saints Options at Quarterback if Derek Carr is Out

If Derek Carr were to miss significant time, here are some quarterbacks that the Saints could bring in for added insurance.

The New Orleans Saints lost more than a game on Sunday in Green Bay. Quarterback Derek Carr suffered a sprain to the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder on a third quarter sack. Initially, the injury looked to be far worse, but Carr will still miss up to several weeks. How much time will be likely better determined on Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Jameis Winston will probably get the start in Carr's place, beginning this Sunday at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A nine-year veteran, Winston spent five seasons with Tampa Bay before spending the last four years in the Saints' system. He's 34-46 as a starter with 21,941 career passing yards, 139 touchdowns, and 96 interceptions. 

Winston, a 61.3% career passer, was retained this offseason after reworking the final year of his existing contract. He has a strong arm capable of making any throw, but has also had a penchant for big mistakes in his career. Nevertheless, he was arguably the league's most talented backup quarterback coming into the season. 

With Carr out, Taysom Hill is the only other potential quarterback on the roster. Rookie fourth-round draft pick Jake Haener is entering his fourth week of a six-game suspension for violation of the NFL substance policy. 

Hill may factor into the team’s quarterback plans, but he's also a valuable part of the offense in other capacities. Whichever player gets the nod behind center, it's possible that the Saints bring in another quarterback for added insurance unless Carr will only miss a week or two. 

Here are some of the veteran quarterbacks currently available as free agents. 

• Matt Barkley (age = 33)

• Ian Book (25)

• Chase Daniel (36)

• Nick Foles (34)

• Brett Hundley (30)

• Colt McCoy (37)

• Trace McSorley (28)

• Kellen Mond (24)

• Bryce Perkins (26)

• Trevor Siemian (31)

• Carson Wentz (30)

Nov 21, 2021; New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian (15) passes against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY

Unless it's revealed that Carr's injury is long-term, than that rules out an already far-fetched possibility of luring Matt Ryan out of retirement. Probably Wentz too, whose representatives reportedly reached out to the New York Jets after the season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers. 

Chase Daniel, Trevor Siemian, or Ian Book all make some sense because of their knowledge of the system. Jake Luton is another player who has spent time on the Saints practice squad, but he was promoted to Carolina's active roster last weekend. 

Daniel played for New Orleans as a backup from 2009-2012 and again in 2017. Book was a fourth-round choice by the Saints out of Notre Dame in 2021 and saw one start in a disastrous Monday night game as a rookie. Siemian started four games for an injured Jameis Winston in 2021. He went 0-4 while completing 57% of his passes for 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns with 3 interceptions. 

Obviously, the best-case scenario for New Orleans is that Carr returns in a week or two. Coach Dennis Allen said on Monday that the quarterback's status is ''week-to-week''. If so, then the Saints should be fine with a Winston-Hill combination until he returns. Given the abysmal performance of the team’s offensive line, it could still be possible that New Orleans brings in another signal caller.