Derek Carr set expectations ahead of his Week 9 return from an injury. He knows he can’t fix all the New Orleans Saints’ problems on his own, and he downplayed the pressure that comes with a starting quarterback returning amid a six-game losing streak.
“I am no savior. There’s only been one of those and that is not me,” Carr told reporters Wednesday. “I am here to be a great leader, and to be a great teammate, and to do my job to the best of my ability.”
Carr missed the last three games with an oblique muscle injury — an uncommon issue in football that’s typically seen in athletes for other sports. Rather than a pain tolerance challenge, it’s limited Carr’s range of motion and ability to wind up and throw with force. So he’s had to stand by and watch his team go out and compete and lose games without him.
Still, like he said, his return isn’t going to cure everything ailing them. The offensive line needs to hold up in protection. The receivers need to get open. Dennis Allen’s handcrafted defense needs to stop the run and pressure the opposing quarterback. Their inability to do those things consistently has cost them six games in a row, on top of Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener’s struggles during Carr’s three-game absence.
But getting Carr back should help in some phases. Rattler took some sacks and misfired some throws that Carr would handle better. Erik McCoy’s injury has forced the quarterbacks to make protection adjustments at the line and that’s something an established pro is better prepared for than a rookie. Now, will it make a difference? It ought to, especially against a Carolina Panthers team the Saints beat once already, but you never know. One NFL team can upset another on any given Sunday.
