Saints' Derek Carr Says He's 'No Savior' Before Expected Injury Return vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints could use some saving after six losses in a row, but quarterback Derek Carr said that isn't his job as he prepares to return from his own three-game absence because of an oblique injury.

"I am no savior," he said Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "There's only been one of those and, that is not me. I am here to be a great leader and to be a great teammate and to do my job the best of my ability. And do I feel confident in what I can do? Absolutely.

"I feel confident in what I can do. I feel confident in what I can bring to our team. And that's exciting, right? But to save us or anything like that, that's not me, I'm going to come in and do what my guys expect me to do. Bring energy, bring effort, be a great teammate. Encourage our guys, get everybody on the same page, lock in the details, hold each other accountable."

Carr exited the team's Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and then missed losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

New Orleans' 2-0 start seems like a completely different season at this point, as the offense managed a grand total of three touchdowns in the three games its quarterback missed. What once looked like a potential playoff contender from the NFC South is now a team that is just one game ahead of the 1-7 Panthers.

A head-to-head loss to Carolina would all but signal an end to any hopes at all for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.

The four-time Pro Bowler may not be a savior, but his return is a welcome step in the right direction for a team that desperately needs to take one. He completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 989 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions prior to his injury and will look to return to form.

Playing the Panthers should help him do just that, as he went 19-of-23 for 200 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the season-opening win over Carolina.

This could be something of a get-right stretch for the Saints, as they play the Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants in the next five games. The Falcons are the only team from that group that doesn't have a losing record.

Carr could be timing his return just right if New Orleans is going to turn things around this season.