A major health update on New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has been revealed amid fears he could miss the entire season due to needing shoulder surgery. 

Carr has not had surgery on his injured shoulder, trying to avoid any procedure, which would be major and likely rule him out for the entire 2025 season. 

However, there has yet to be a definitive decision coming from the Saints or Carr on what his next few months look like, per Ian Rapoport. 

‘I believe Derek Carr would like to not have surgery,’ Rapoport said. ‘I believe he would like to rehab, get this thing eight, get back on the field for week one, which my understanding is still at least a possibility.’ 

‘But there’s been no firm, ‘He’s not having surgery, he’s good to go’. Or, ‘He is having surgery.’ And if he has surgery, it’s major, potentially not playing next season. That’s what nobody wants. I believe he is doing what he can now to try to get back on the field for Week 1 and we’ll see where it ends up.’

Carr ended his 2024 season with a hand injury, only playing in 10 games, and has tried to get back to full strength this offseason. 

A major health update on New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has been revealed

Carr has not had surgery on his injured shoulder and is trying to avoid any major procedure

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Carr has been in New Orleans for two seasons, leading the Saints to the playoffs in neither.  

New Orleans did draft former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough in last month’s NFL Draft, with the rookie likely being the Saints starter should Carr opt to undergo surgery. 

Carr turned 34 in March and is under contract with the Saints through the 2026 season. 

Yet, with the Saints in a rebuild, Carr’s health is integral to the trajectory of the team’s path back to the postseason. 

Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are also in the Saints quarterback room, with one of those two expected to be released by the start of the regular season.