Derek Carr ‘not a savior’ for skidding Saints, just trying to be ‘big leader’ in expected return vs. Panthers

The hope is that the QB1’s return, coupled with facing a one-win Panthers team, will be the cure for the Saints’ ailments.

Carr simply isn’t about to make season-defining statements, even if he’s set up in sensational fashion.

In Week 1, Carr and the Saints dismantled the Panthers, as he threw three touchdowns in a 47-10 victory. With that win, Carr improved to 5-0 in his career against Carolina, having won twice with the Raiders and three times with Saints.

With both teams taking a battle bus down a winding road this season, Carr and Panthers are at quarterback Bryce Young will start again opposite each other in a somewhat surprising development. Carr has missed three games due to a rookie injury Spencer Rattler starting in his place while Young was on the bench, but has now returned to the starting line-up afterwards Andy Dalton fell with a thumb injury.

Once a 2-0 darling, the season is slipping away from the Saints, if it isn’t already.

Carr hopes to change his team’s fortunes, but isn’t promising anything new.

“I’m coming in and doing what my guys expect of me: bringing energy, putting in effort, like I said, being a great teammate,” he said. “Encourage our guys, get everyone on the same page, nail down the details, hold each other accountable. What’s the nine weeks we’ve been promised, right? Or 10. Whatever week this is. There’s just a complete commitment of myself versus our boys.”

Carr practiced Wednesday for the first time since leaving the Chiefs game. He was listed as limited, but promises to be full steam ahead.

“If I come back, I’m going to be a psychopath,” he said. “I’m going to be crazy about the details and everything because we only get one shot at this. So I don’t have any promises or anything except that I’m going to promise great efforts and promise long nights and early mornings to make sure, we are at our best.”