Kansas City, Mo. – New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr couldn't immediately say whether he will be available when the team takes the field Sunday in the Caesars Superdome against Tampa Bay.
But Carr wasn't able to finish the game Monday night, when an oblique injury sidelined him for the final 9:38 of the Saints’ 26-13 loss to Kansas City at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which extended the Saints' losing streak to three after two season-opening victories.
Carr suffered an oblique injury and his last play was an incomplete pass, targeting receiver Mason Tipton, with 9:38 left. Jake Haener stepped in for the Saints' final offensive possession; Carr finished 18 of 28 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
"Not good," Carr responded when asked how he felt after the game. "I'm going to have an MRI tomorrow, we'll figure it out."
While Carr lamented that he couldn't be on the field with his teammates to finish the game, he admitted, "I couldn't do what I needed to do."
Coach Dennis Allen said he was advised by the medical staff that Carr had an injury to his left side and would not be able to continue.
Carr dealt with several injuries last season, his first with the Saints, but managed to start all 17 regular-season games despite not being able to finish against Green Bay and Minnesota. Against the Packers, he sprained the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder and against the Vikings, he suffered a concussion and right shoulder injury.
"I asked if there was anything you could do about it," Carr said of the oblique. "They said there's not enough time to do that."
Carr said it wasn't a hit that caused the injury; rather, when he torqued to make the throw.
"I just don' know yet," said Carr, who threw for his 250th career touchdown and passed the 40,000-yard mark Monday night. "It wasn't like it was a pain thing. If you can deal with the pain, then you can go. I just can't do what I want to do. Obviously, it's fresh, it just happened, but you know I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I'm there."