Derek Carr Praises Jameis Winston Amid Looming Injury Absence

After spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is week-to-week, and has pledged his return to the lineup as soon as his shoulder allows him.

In the meantime, Carr threw his full support behind his replacement, Jameis Winston, who will be leading the offense in his stead. Winston went 10-of-16 passing for 101 yards in relief of Carr last Sunday.

“For what I got to watch, he did a great job,” Carr said about Winston’s fill in role following his injury in Green Bay. “Jameis is a starter in this league. We have a couple guys that can start NFL football games in our room and Jameis is another one of those guys. Jameis came in…in practice I take every rep…and he did a great job of stepping in with no reps and playing good football. As he knows, in that role no matter where you’re at, when you’re called upon that’s the expectation. I thought he did a great job for what he was asked to do, absolutely.”

As for Saints fans who clamored for do-everything offensive weapon Taysom Hill to take over under center, coach Dennis Allen said that it was never under consideration and that Winston will be the starter until Carr can return. 

New Orleans hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday in an important early season divisional battle.