Why isn’t Derek Carr playing for the Saints against the Packers in Week 16?

The New Orleans Saints face a tough Green Bay Packers team for Monday Night Football tonight. They already had their small hopes of a postseason dashed on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons beat the New York Giants. This will be the fourth straight year that the Saints have missed the playoffs - their longest stretch since a five-year drought from 2001 to 2005.

With nothing to play for this season, the 5-9 Saints face a 10-4 Packers team (on the road, no less) who would clinch a postseason spot with a win tonight. The odds are not looking good for the Saints, who will also be playing without their starting quarterback Derek Carr.

Derek Carr injury keeps him out vs Packers

During the Saints' Week 14 game against the New York Giants, Carr suffered a fracture to his non-throwing hand. It kept him out of last week’s game against the Washington Commanders and it will keep him out of tonight’s game as well.

Carr has not been able to practice due to the injury and head coach Darren Rizzi said on Saturday that he is making progress, but “not enough” to play.

Spencer Rattler filling in for Carr

When Carr was out last week, the Saints put in backup quarterback Jake Haener, but he had a terrible start, so they took him out and put rookie Spencer Rattler in instead.

Rattler will be the starter for tonight’s Monday Night Football game against the Packers. Rattler has made five total appearances for the Saints in his rookie season now, completing 69 of 120 passes for 706 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while adding nine carries for 61 yardrs and three fumbles. Haener will serve as Rattler’s backup.

You can follow along with our live text coverage of the Saints vs Packers game, brought to you by Dane Arlauckas, right here on AS USA.

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