Saints QB Derek Carr ruled out early in loss to Vikings with concussion, shoulder injury

Saints QB Derek Carr ruled out of game with concussion, shoulder injury. Jameis Winston replaced him in loss to Vikings.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr was forced to leave their 27-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings early on Sunday afternoon due to a concussion and a shoulder injury. The hit came in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium when Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter drilled him hard from the side as Carr stepped up through the pocket and got a pass off to Chris Olave. The impact caused Carr's head and shoulder to hit the turf hard, leaving him visibly shaken up after the play.

Following the hit, Carr walked off to the medical tent but was later carted off the field. Jameis Winson then replaced Carr for the remainder of the game. The Saints officially ruled Carr out with a right shoulder injury and a concussion, though specific details about the injuries are not yet known.

Carr finished the day throwing 13-of-18 for 110 yards. The Saints were down 27-3 when he went down, but Winston managed to complete the drive with a remarkable touchdown grab from Olave in the corner of the end zone, along with a two-point conversion, cutting the Vikings' lead to 16 points at the time.

Winston brought the game to a single possession early in the fourth quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass to A.T. Perry and a second two-point conversion, but the Vikings ultimately held on and intercepted Winston twice late to secure the eight-point win.

In the loss for New Orleans, Winston went 13-of-25 for 122 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Alvin Kamara had 42 rushing yards on nine carries, and Olave had 94 yards and a touchdown on six catches.

Joshua Dobbs, making his first start for the Vikings, went 23-of-34 for 268 yards and a touchdown in the win. Ty Chandler had 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and T.J. Hockenson had 134 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches.

Carr entered the day with 2,121 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season, his first with the Saints after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Raiders. The 32-year-old is on a four-year, $150 million deal with the Saints.

While it's unclear how long Carr will be sidelined, the Saints have their bye week next week, which should give him extra time to recover. The Saints are set to take on the Atlanta Falcons next on Nov. 26.

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