Derek Carr is a familiar face in a new place, and after all that time as a Raider, will we see Carr in NFL preseason Game 1 for the New Orleans Saints? The Saints host Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. Here is all we know about the chances Carr makes an appearance.
Will Derek Carr Make His New Orleans Saints Debut?
According to Saints head coach Dennis Allen, the starters on both sides of the ball are expected to see about 15 plays each in Game 1, with Carr included in that total.
Carr has not seen preseason action since 2019 as a member of the then-Oakland Raiders, and while it is a new team and a new way of doing things for him, he seems eager for the opportunity and is ready to get in some real action with his new teammates.
How To Watch Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints
- Start time: 1 p.m ET
- Channel: NFL Network and NFL+
Who Will Play After Derek Carr?
Just how quickly the 15 scheduled plays for Carr will last into the game is unknown. With one long sustained drive, Carr’s day could be over, or we could see five straight three-and-outs that would see him on the field for possibly a quarter’s worth of action. While all that will get sorted out, let’s take a look at who will spell Carr in the Saints’ quarterback room.
The quarterback who is projected to get the first crack after Carr is veteran QB Jameis Winston. At one time, Winston was the starting quarterback in New Orleans, and while that is no longer the case, having him in that room helps the Saints quietly boast one of the deepest QB rooms in all of the NFL.
Presumably, the next man up after Winston would be the Saints’ 2023 fourth-round selection out of Fresno State, Jake Haener. This will be Haener’s first taste of NFL life, and he’ll surely look to make the most of his first opportunities to try and make a lasting impression on his coaches and the rest of the league.
The fourth and final option at quarterback is an intriguing one for New Orleans. On the depth chart, the Saints have do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill listed there. While Hill may be too valuable to this team in many other ways, it may be worth giving him a series or two to keep his quarterback work sharp while he also does other things for this Saints offense.