Derek Carr’s offseason is off to a murky start—and not just because he skipped the opening days of the Saints’ voluntary workouts. The 34-year-old quarterback is reportedly nursing a lingering shoulder injury. One that dates back to 2023 when he took a hit against Green Bay.

It happened on September 24, 2023—Carr got drilled by Rashan Gary in the third quarter, landed hard on his throwing shoulder, and they ruled him out soon after the hit. Before the sack, he was 13-of-18, 103 yards, and a touchdown, building a 17-0 cushion. But once he exited, the Saints’ offense went cold, the defense bent, and the Packers pulled off an 18-17 comeback.

No one knew back then that it was the beginning of the end for Crazy Carr and his Carr Bombs. At the time, it looked like a week-to-week sprain. Fast forward to April 2025, and it’s clear the damage ran deeper. The AC joint sprain never fully healed, and now surgery might be on deck.

Making matters worse? Carr hasn’t shown up to rehab at the facility. Voluntary or not, when your QB1 is off the grid, questions start flying. While his absence technically isn’t mandatory, the context makes it anything but routine. The Saints’ media team even dropped a highlight reel featuring Spencer Rattler and Cam Jordan…

Behind the scenes, questions have been stacking for months. When Kellen Moore took the podium at the NFL owners’ meetings, he played coy on Carr’s status but said he was “excited to team up.” That sounded more like coach-speak than confidence. The Saints restructured Carr’s contract in March, freeing up $30 million in cap space—but ballooning his 2026 cap hit to $69.2 million.

That kind of number demands commitment. Right now, Carr’s commitment feels like a shrug. Instead of being at the facility, Carr popped up on Monday on YouTube reviewing a $500K Rolls-Royce with his brother David. Great for car content, not ideal for team optics.

Especially when rumors are swirling about the Saints possibly drafting a quarterback. Shedeur Sanders’ name keeps bouncing around the Saints’ orbit, and with Carr’s health in question, that buzz is only getting louder. Then came the skeptics. The Athletic’s Diana Russini poured cold water on the injury narrative, calling it “trade bait” more than a medical concern.

That’s coming from an insider, sure, but even the ones who once walked the Saints building aren’t riding with the whole ‘Carr is our guy’ vibe.

Derek Carr is… not Kellen Moore’s guy?

So, Derek Carr might be feeling a little heat in New Orleans—and not just from the gumbo. And it gets awkward-speech from the hype train when your exes start speaking. That’s what happened when former Saints linebacker and Super Bowl champ Scott Shanle took to social media. “If he’s pouting because the Saints are gonna look for a young QB… he’s too thin-skinned to be your quarterback,” Shanle wrote.

And Shanle didn’t stop there. He went full film-room breakdown on Carr’s off-field behavior, calling out the QB for not being at the team facility while nursing a shoulder injury. Instead? Hanging out in Fresno with his brother, apparently doing car reviews on YouTube. “Mrs. Benson didn’t pay you $40 million a year to do car reviews on YouTube,” he posted. Oof. It’s blunt. But it’s the kind of critique that sticks, especially coming from a guy who used to watch Drew Brees grind every single morning before practice.

This isn’t just about being hurt. It’s about how you respond. According to Dianna Russini, Carr may have leaked his injury status himself—possibly to dodge what she called “the Kirk Cousins treatment.” You know, the whole: we drafted your replacement, now play nice routine. And yeah, Saints fans remember how that drama unfolded in Atlanta with Cousins and Penix Jr.

But if Carr wanted out—or at least wanted options—he’s got none. The Saints restructured his deal without his sign-off, locking him in for 2025. It’s normal NFL business, sure, but let’s not pretend that doesn’t sting a little. You’ve got a QB who might be trying to exit, a front office quietly scouting his successor, and a fanbase stuck wondering what the actual plan is. That’s not a quarterback room—it’s a pressure cooker.

Put it all together and it’s crystal clear: Carr and the Saints aren’t on the same page. Maybe not even reading the same playbook. And if New Orleans does take a quarterback in the top 10? Don’t be shocked if Carr’s next video opens with a “What’s up guys, just wanted to say…” and ends with a soft fade to black.