How will the young bucks respond to this new challenge?
Rookie minicamp opened for the New Orleans Saints this weekend in New Orleans. For many, it was the first look at not only the Rookie class, but a glimpse at how Kellen Moore operates.
Saturday morning, news dropped that Saints quarterback Derek Carr would be retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons, two of those in the Big Easy, due to a significant shoulder injury.
According to a statement released by the Saints:
“In late March, while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, Derek experienced pain in his right shoulder. It was his first time throwing a football at significant volume since recovering from both a concussion and left hand injury sustained during play on December 8, 2024. Derek immediately contacted the Saints Medical Team. Eventually, medical scans determined objectively that Derek sustained a labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.
Since that time, Derek, his representation, the Saints Medical Team and outside medical experts have worked together to determine the best path forward. Surgery was an option, jeopardizing the entire 2025 season, yet there was no guarantee Derek would return to the level of strength, function and performance of play to which he was accustomed.
Upon consultation with his wife, Heather, Derek has decided it is in the best interests of both his family and the Saints organization to retire from the National Football League.”
Following the news, Carr released his own statement: “Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” said Carr. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
Now, the Saints will turn to a quarterback room with just three years of combined NFL experience as Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and rookie Tyler Shough will all compete for the starting job, Moore said Saturday in his presser.
Each quarterback has distinct advantages to their game and will provide a different wrinkle to the scheme, so it will be intriguing to watch the competition play out throughout the summer.
However, as it stands now, it looks like the first time in a long time that the Saints may be closer to a rebuild than being a contender.
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