Derek Carr leaves Saints’ matchup with Chiefs early with oblique injury after hard hit

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr left their 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs early on Monday night with an oblique injury after taking a hard shot in the fourth quarter.

While trying to convert on a deep fourth down late in the game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs sent an all-out blitz at Carr to force an incompletion. Carr was slow to get up after taking a hard hit in the backfield, and he was seen walking to the locker room slowly without his helmet on a few plays later.

The Saints initially said he was questionable to return with an oblique injury, though further specifics aren’t yet known. Carr did not return to the game. He finished throwing 18-of-28 for 165 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Without Carr, the Saints turned to Jake Haener to take them the rest of the way. Haener, who New Orleans took in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, has now appeared in three games this season — though he had attempted just a single pass before Monday night. Haener finished throwing 2-of-7 for 17 yards to close out the game.

The Chiefs led the entire way on Monday night to grab the 13-point win, which pushed them to a perfect 5-0. Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards and had an interception for the Chiefs, which marked his ninth straight regular season game with a pick, and Kareem Hunt had 102 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

Alvin Kamara led the Saints with just 26 yards on 11 carries. Rashid Shaheed had 86 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Foster Moreau caught Carr’s other touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, which briefly cut the game to three points. The Chiefs, however, put up 10 unanswered points to end the game and grab the win.

New Orleans, after two blowout wins to start the year, has now dropped three straight. The Saints will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next on Sunday. Carr’s status for that matchup is unknown.