METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is expected to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers after missing the last three games with an oblique injury.
Saints coach Dennis Allen said that Jake Haener will be Carr's backup even though the team started rookie Spencer Rattler in Carr's absence. «We felt like Rattler gave us the best chance at the time, and so I think we'll see where we're at come this weekend, what the expectation is.
My expectation is that Derek's going to be ready to go,» Allen said on Wednesday. «In that case, Jake will be the backup.… I don't want to get into the specifics of the reasons why, but I feel like that's the best thing for our team.» Carr has not played since leaving the end of a Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a left oblique strain.
It's the longest amount of time he's missed due to an injury since breaking his ankle at the end of the 2017 season when he was with the Raiders.