Derek Carr is expected to be back on the field for Wednesday's practice, and to start at quarterback Sunday for the New Orleans Saints (2-6) when they take on Carolina (1-7) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach Dennis Allen said Monday afternoon that Carr, who missed the last three games with an oblique injury, had a throwing session earlier in the day and is on schedule to return against the Panthers, whom the Saints defeated 47-10 in the season opener on Sept. 8 in the Caesars Superdome.
"He looked good in the throwing session," Allen said. "I would expect him to be back out at practice on Wednesday, and then we'll go from there and see what his availability is this week, but I'm optimistic about it."
Carr, who has completed 90 of 128 passes (70.3 percent) for 989 yards and eight touchdowns, with four interceptions, in five games this season never had missed three starts in a season due to injury until this year. Last year he battled through several injuries to start all 17 games.
New Orleans is hopeful that Carr's return can provide a needed offensive spark to a team that has lost six consecutive games for the first time since 2005 and averaged 15.7 points while doing so.
In Sunday’s 26-8 loss to the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, the Saints failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season.
"We had 15 10-plus yard plays, which is the most that we've had in any game this season," Allen said. "The issue that we've got to get corrected is we've got to be more consistent.
"We do some good things offensively, we'll move the ball and then as we get to that midfield area we'll have some penalties and things that are going to knock us into longer yardage situations, and we're not able to overcome those right now. The consistency in our play, the details in our play, I think those are the areas that we've got to continue to work to improve on.
"As coaches we've got to be more detail-oriented in terms of what we're teaching, how we're wanting guys to do things, holding guys accountable to doing those things – the little things – the right way. And then, it's incumbent upon the players to focus in on those details and be able to execute those details."
Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler started all three games in Carr's absence and completed 59 of 99 passes for 571 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Rattler was sacked 14 times.
"Young, developmental quarterback that I'm encouraged and excited about, but not quite there yet," Allen said of Rattler. "He needs a little more time in the oven, a little more time to grow, a little more time to develop. And that'll come.
"But I would say the same about Jake Haener; I think him coming in – he's done some good things, he's worked extremely hard – there were some things that I was encouraged about and yet, it hasn't been quite what we needed it to be to be able to win some games."
'NOTHING MALICIOUS:' Allen said he reviewed the second quarter play that defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd was involved in against the Chargers, which resulted in Shepherd appearing to twist the leg of Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert after Herbert had completed a pass, and Chargers center Bradley Bozeman diving on Shepherd in retaliation.
Shepherd and Bozeman received offsetting unnecessary roughness penalties. Shepherd widely was criticized for his action.
"I think it's not accurate," Allen said. "Here's a guy that's trying to wrap the quarterback up – he's on the ground, he has no idea whether the quarterback has the ball or not, he's just trying to bring the quarterback down to the ground.
"There was nothing malicious about that play. It's a guy that's trying to make a play. I went back and looked at that play again after seeing the comments, and I don't agree with that."
PLAYERS ONLY: As of early Monday afternoon, it sounded like Saints players hadn't yet participated in the players only meeting that running back Alvin Kamara said likely would be had following the team's sixth straight loss.
Linebacker Pete Werner said he believed it was a necessary meeting.
"I think so, just because you see these consecutive losses, it turns back to accountability with players and just personally within yourself," Werner said. "You've got to look at yourself in the mirror, and you know you've got to figure it out. You've got to get it done, and we're not. Players, at the end of the day, are going out there and performing, so it's going to start with us."
"You want your players to be accountable to what we need to do to be able to win," Allen said. "(But) this is not a player thing, it's not a coach thing, it's an 'us' thing. I think we all together have to do a better job."
INJURY UPDATES: Receiver Bub Means suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chargers and will miss time. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and running back Kendre Miller, both with hamstring injuries, will be evaluated.
Tight end Juwan Johnson was evaluated for a concussion during the game but was asymptomatic on Monday.
