By Ross Jackson
It’s gamesmanship at its finest this week on Airline Drive.
The New Orleans Saints had feared the loss of starting quarterback Derek Carr for the remainder of the season following an injury that took him out of the team’s win against the New York Giants. Now, the team maintains that there’s a chance he could actually play without practicing this week.
At least, that’s what they want the Washington Commanders to think.
Carr suffered a non-throwing hand injury that was initially reported to be a fracture. However, interim head coach Darren Rizzi refuted those reports saying that the quarterback’s injury is more of a day-to-day or week-to-week ailment than a season-ending one. The veteran passer is also in concussion protocol and did not participate in practice on Wednesday.
The belief is that the team will turn to one of their two young passers, second year quarterback Jake Haener or rookie and previous starter Spencer Rattler, for at least this weekend’s game against the Commanders.
Despite saying that the team would come to a decision by Tuesday evening, Rizzi shared that the team has changed course in how it will approach the starting quarterback situation.
“Spencer and Jake both took reps today,” he said in his Wednesday media availability. “Obviously with Derek not being out there, both of those guys took reps in the team periods. That’ll probably be the same case tomorrow (Thursday). And we’re just going to evaluate that situation, and we will name a starter at the end of the week.”
The overall expectation is that with the team having gotten a look at Rattler while Carr was out Weeks 6-8 with an oblique injury, giving Haener his opportunity to get at least one start will be the eventual decision by the team. Based on the recent posts he’s shared on social media throughout the day, it looks like he may be expecting the same.
But it sounds like the Saints are instead opting to, at least publicly, continue the competition between the two passers that has been ongoing since training camp.
But one can’t help but acknowledge that New Orleans is also keeping Washington on its toes with this gameplan. Now, the Commanders must plan for three possible quarterbacks that could still start this weekend. While a bit coy, it’s a smart move by New Orleans no matter what vitriol it may draw from each quarterback’s population of loyalists. It’s a wise decision to use every competitive advantage you can get in the NFL.
So, expect both Haener and Rattler to get snaps in practice on Thursday with an eventual starter named and likely speaking to the media on Friday. Until then, mum’s the word on Airline.
