Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement

Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement

Derek Carr’s abrupt retirement likely will accelerate the Tyler Shough era with the Saints.

The rookie second-round draft pick suddenly will compete with Spencer Rattler and Jack Haener for the starting quarterback nod in New Orleans.

The 34-year-old Carr retired Saturday due to an injured right shoulder, with the Saints revealing that the 11-year NFL veteran suffered a labral tear and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”

Tyler Shough throws during Saints rookie camp on May 10, 2025.
Tyler Shough throws during Saints rookie camp on May 10, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience,” Carr said in a statement. “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.”

The Saints drafted Shough out of Louisville with the 40th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the third quarterback off the board after first-round picks Cam Ward (first overall to the тιтans) and Jaxson Dart (25th to the Giants).

“We certainly felt like adding a quarterback to that room would’ve been valuable under all circumstances,” Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Saturday, adding that all three quarterbacks will get a chance to compete for the starting spot. “We’re going to let all three of these guys roll, and they’ve all earned these opportunities.

“We’ll let Jake, Spencer and Tyler, all three, go through this process. Again, we’ll play patience, let these guys compete, let them get into training camp and naturally [the compeтιтion will] take care of itself.”

Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions last season at Louisville after also spending time at Oregon and Texas Tech. He said he learned of Carr’s retirement earlier Saturday morning.

Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday.
Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday. AP

“I think that’s all you can ask for is an opportunity at any position, and I’m going to treat it the same way, as if, whoever was on the roster, I’ve got to continue to grow and get better and do my best to elevate the quarterback room,” Shough said.

Rattler, a fifth-round pick in 2024, made six starts (all losses) for the Saints last season with Carr sidelined, with four touchdown pᴀsses and five interceptions. Haener, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2023, also started one game last season.

Related Posts

Ed Kelce shares picture of Taylor Swift with his late girlfriend as Travis and Jason’s dad mourns her death

Ed Kelce shares picture of Taylor Swift with his late girlfriend as Travis and Jason’s dad mourns her death

Ed Kelce has shared a picture of his late girlfriend, Maureen Maguire, meeting Taylor Swift as he mourns her death. Maguire died on Friday at the age…

Jared Allen tears pants while doing his sack celebration at Hall of Fame induction

Jared Allen tears pants while doing his sack celebration at Hall of Fame induction

Jared Allen ripped his pants while being inducted into the Hall of Fame over the weekend. At the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday,…

Giants’ ‘athletic’ quarterbacks could give them a physical leg up — but it comes with a risk

Giants’ ‘athletic’ quarterbacks could give them a physical leg up — but it comes with a risk

When it came time to rate all the quarterbacks in the 2025 draft, it became increasingly clear to the Giants that Cam Ward was the best of…

Speedy Arian Smith could give Jets what they’ve been missing — if he fixes glaring red flag

Speedy Arian Smith could give Jets what they’ve been missing — if he fixes glaring red flag

Arian Smith looked around and saw others who were older than him. Then he saw them behind him — as he sprinted past them. “That’s when I…

Chargers star reveals troubling reason why he won’t leave his Brazil H๏τel before Kansas City Chiefs game

Chargers star reveals troubling reason why he won’t leave his Brazil H๏τel before Kansas City Chiefs game

Los Angeles Chargers star Tony Jefferson has revealed will not be leaving the team’s H๏τel while staying in Brazil due to it not being safe for the…

Jay-Z wades into Micah Parsons’ feud with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

Jay-Z wades into Micah Parsons’ feud with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

Jerry Jones has been called out by rapper Jay-Z and former Cowboys star Dez Bryant over ‘comical’ and ‘disrespectful’ comments he made on the mess involving Micah…