Derek Carr leaves the Saints’ game against the Chiefs early with an oblique injury after a hard hit

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury after a hard shot in the fourth quarter in a 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs early Monday night.

When the Chiefs tried to convert a deep fourth down late in the game at Arrowhead Stadium, they sent a full-court attack on Carr to force an incompletion. Carr was slow to get up after taking a hard hit in the backfield, and a few plays later he was seen slowly walking to the locker room without a helmet.

The Saints initially said his return was questionable due to an oblique injury, but further details are not yet available. Carr did not return to the game. He threw 18 of 28 for 165 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Without Carr, the Saints turned to Jake Haener to take them the rest of the way. Haener, who New Orleans took out of Fresno State in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has now appeared in three games this season – despite only attempting a single pass before Monday night. Haener finished the game with a 2-of-7 throw for 17 yards.

The Chiefs led the entire way Monday night and picked up the 13-point win that moved them to a perfect 5-0. Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards and had an interception for the Chiefs, marking his ninth straight regular season game with a pick, and Kareem Hunt had 102 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

Alvin Kamara led the Saints with just 26 yards on 11 carries. Rashid Shaheed had 86 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Foster Moreau caught Carr’s other touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, briefly cutting the game to three points. However, the Chiefs racked up 10 unanswered points to close out the game and secure the win.

After two blowout wins to start the year, New Orleans has now lost three straight. The Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday. Carr’s status for this matchup is unknown.