NFL
Why isn't Derek Carr playing for the Saints against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football?
A growing list of injuries has left the New Orleans team without key offensive players, making the road ahead the rest of the season increasingly difficult.
The New Orleans Saints face a tough challenge this week as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.
Three essential pieces of the Saints‘ offensive puzzle are missing for this week’s game. The Saints’ offense, already lacking firepower, is further hindered by a rash of injuries across the board.
Derek Carr is still out, with rookie Ratler as the QB1
Three important pieces of the Saints’ offensive puzzle are missing for this week’s game. Wide receiver Chris Olave, the team’s top target, was ruled out following a concussion sustained in last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Olave took a brutal hit early in the game, which many believe should have resulted in a penalty. Regardless, his absence leaves rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler without his primary weapon.
Olave‘s absence is worsened by the loss of wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who will undergo meniscus surgery on Thursday. Depending on the outcome of the surgery, Shaheed could be sidelined for several weeks or potentially the remainder of the season.
Adding to the Saints' fans' sufferings, offensive weapon Taysom Hill is listed as doubtful due to multiple injuries. Without Hill’s versatility, the Saints will have to lean on an increasingly depleted roster, which now includes just three healthy wide receivers: Cedric Wilson, Bub Means, and Mason Tipton.
The team is currently without starting quarterback Derek Carr and much of its offensive line, along with Olave and Shaheed. Carr injured his oblique in the Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs while throwing an incomplete pass in the last moments of the game. Oblique injuries typically lead to multiweek absences, so the first quarterback’s return date is still not set.
Saints outlook for the rest of the season
As a result, fans have tempered expectations for this matchup but are slowly giving up on the season. Additionally, running back Alvin Kamara is dealing with multiple injuries, and it’s unlikely that the Saints will see him fully healthy in the near future.
With their top playmakers sidelined, the Saints must rely on young players like Bub Means and Mason Tipton to step up and fill the void. While Means showed promise in the last game, more will be expected if the Saints are to remain competitive.
Despite the grim outlook, there is some hope. Key players like Eric McCoy and Taysom Hill could return in the coming weeks, potentially reinvigorating the Saints' struggling offense. However, for now, Saints fans are bracing for a difficult stretch as injuries threaten to derail a season that already seems slipping away.