Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback, has battled injuries but has remained available.
‘If I can be there, I’ll do my best to be there for my team.’
The New Orleans Saints quarterback’s on-again, off-again relationship with the injury report is off this week.
Carr, who battled a concussion, damaged shoulder, and bruised ribs last week, was not listed on the Saints’ (6-7) injury report on Wednesday. The Saints meet the Giants (5-8) in the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
“There was no re-aggravation, so that was nice,” he went on to say. “For the first time in a minute, I didn’t land on my shoulder or ribs.” So that was nice. I’m feeling better this week than I did last week at this time. But sore, just like everyone else.”
Carr has been injured for much of the season, beginning with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder against Green Bay in Week 3, progressing to a concussion and shoulder re-injury against Minnesota in Week 10, and culminating with a concussion/back/shoulder trifecta against Detroit in Week 13. Carr completed 18 of 26 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns with an interception as the Saints defeated Carolina 28-6 in Week 14.
“If I can be out there, I’m going to do my best to be out there for my team,” he told reporters. “I promised myself that if I could be out there, I would do everything I could.” A coach once told me that if you can be out there for your team – especially as quarterback – it says a lot about your teammates and the coaches.
“I even had a couple of defensive coaches and a couple of defensive players come up to me this morning at breakfast and say, ‘Hey man, I appreciate that.'” Maybe I wasn’t at my best, but that type of respect goes a long way toward fostering togetherness and teamwork. I don’t believe anyone is performing at their peak right now. It’s late in the season, but I just wanted to be there for my teammates.”
Carr has managed to be accessible for his teammates despite his scrapes, bruises, sprains, concussions, and rib problems.
“It’s been aggravating for me.” “It has,” he explained. “It’s been extremely frustrating.” Every week is different, and you’re dealing with something, but I learned a long time ago that nobody cares at the end of the day. You must give your all.
“You’re going to have to answer tough questions when those things happen, and you’re going to have to deal with stuff, but you do your best to be out there for your teammates at practice, and do your best to be out there at games and give it your all.” I’ve been attempting to do so all year.”
Carr has faced criticism for doing so, including boos from those in the home audience. But he understands that starting at quarterback in the NFL comes with the territory.
“I do understand that their expectations are our expectations,” he went on to say. “So their frustration – that’s how they can express their frustration.” My frustration is expressed in our own unique way. So, all of our expectations were high, and they should still be high.
“We still have everything in front of us.” I’m sticking with it because this is the moment. Right now is the moment to become hot. I was on a team (the Raiders, who finished 10-7) in 2021, and this was when we got hot, and it was a terrific moment in our stadium. The city was buzzing with activity. We wish to do the same for our city.
“I adore this place, and all I want is to win here.” I just want to win because I understand how it feels. Hopefully, the one from last week will carry over and keep the energy going for the rest of the season.”
Carr described himself as a people pleaser who had to realize that not everyone will or can be pleased.
“No matter how excellent you’re trying to do your job, no matter how good you try and be in life, all those things, I learned real quick there’s still going to be people that don’t like you or don’t care, and all that kind of stuff,” he told me. “And that was an awakening for me when I was a young player.” I’m working so hard to do everything right. I’m attempting to do everything and be a good role model for the kids, among other things.
“You quickly realize that that is exactly what it is. You don’t get hardened; you just know. You know what to expect. It won’t always be positive, but it was at the conclusion of that (last) game, and hopefully we can keep doing that for our fans so that we can have some more wonderful moments.”
