Saints to start QB Rattler if Carr out; RB Kamara likely out - ESPN

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler will start on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers if Derek Carr misses a second game with a hand injury, interim coach Darren Rizzi said Thursday.

Rizzi said that Rattler gave the team a spark after playing the second half of a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders last week and he was impressed by how he led the team down the field to score in the final two minutes. The Saints initially went with Jake Haener as their starter before switching to Rattler after halftime.

Rattler previously started three games when Carr was out with an oblique injury.

The Saints could be without both Carr and running back Alvin Kamara this week. Rizzi said running back Kamara's groin injury is more serious than initial tests revealed. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the injury is still being evaluated but it is potentially season ending.

Rizzi said Kamara is considered «week-to-week» but «it doesn't look great» for his chances to play Monday.

«The initial tests were, it wasn't really going to be that bad and it's just a little bit more significant, so a little bit more missed time,» Rizxi said. «I think with the type of injury that he has, there's multiple opinions, there's different ways you can handle it, it can heal.… All of us medical staff, Alvin, everyone's going to just kind of take a deep breath here and kind of see what the best option is for him moving forward.… Hopefully we can get him back here by the end of the year, but we'll see what happens.»

Rizzi disputed reports that Carr is potentially done for the season and said, «by no means is it a reach that he'll be back at some point.» Rizzi said Carr wants to play again this season and has been