Catherine TyrellESPN staff writer3 minutes to read
Derek Carr is week to week with a sprained AC joint
Saints coach Dennis Allen provides an update on QB Derek Carr’s strained joint.
Metairie, Los Angeles — New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr sprained his right AC joint and is considered week-to-week, coach Dennis Allen said Monday.
Allen did not rule out Carr missing Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, saying the injury is not as serious as it could have been.
“I think we dodged a bullet there in terms of real significance,” Allen said.
Allen said Carr felt better Monday morning and that he will continue to be evaluated throughout the week.
“We’re not making any decisions today, and we’re not ruling anything out,” Allen said. “We’ll see where he is as the week goes on.”
Allen did not specify the degree of the sprain.
“All I can say is he was a lot better today than he was yesterday,” Allen said. “We’ll continue to evaluate him, and when he’s healthy enough to be able to go out there and perform and do the things he needs to do to give our team a chance to win, he’ll be back out there.” “
Carr’s playing status will likely be determined by his pain tolerance and ability to function, but it won’t get any worse by playing through it.
“I don’t think there’s any further risk of injury,” Allen said. “It’s ‘Can you work and do your job?'”
Carr was injured in the third quarter of the Saints’ 18-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Saints were leading 17-0 when he took a sack that landed hard on his shoulder.
He lay on the grass for several minutes while athletic trainers took care of him. He then went to the medical tent on the bench for a brief period before leaving the match. Carr went to a local hospital for an X-ray but was back with the team on Sunday.
Jameis Winston took over in Carr’s absence, completing 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards. He was able to drive the team 47 yards to the Green Bay 34 in the final three minutes of the game, but Saints kicker Blake Grupe missed a potential game-winning field goal.
“I don’t think what we were doing has changed at all,” Allen said. “I thought Jameis did some good things in the game. We drove ourselves out there and gave ourselves a chance and we didn’t finish.”
After the game, Allen said the Saints needed better protection, but he did not attribute the injury to a struggling offensive line.
“I think that was the only play that I felt like he kind of stuck to it [the ball] “Too long,” Allen said.