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Reeling AFC team pitched former Raider to unretire

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Derek Hegna | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 10:07 AM ET

Injuries are part of the game of football, and some teams are handling it better than others this year.

No team has collapsed like the Cincinnati Bengals, however, whose season took a turn for the worst when quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury that would leave him sidelined for months. Since then, quarterback has been a sore spot for the 2-4 Bengals, who seem to be well out of contention for a playoff berth. While they did make a trade with the Cleveland Browns for Joe Flacco, it is a temporary solution with a limited ceiling for the Bengals.

However, Flacco was not the Bengals’ first choice, as the team reached out to a player Las Vegas Raiders fans know quite well.

The NFL was closer than expected to seeing the return of this former Raider.

Acoording to Ian Rapoport, one of the names the Bengals had circled on their list of potential targets was Derek Carr.

The #Bengals’ exhaustive QB search including calling nearly all teams with 3 QBs or a viable PS option. Among the names they inquired about: Davis Mills, Sam Howell and Derek Carr, who is still retired with the #Saints. No call on Ryan Tannehill, who hasn’t played since 2023. https://t.co/yLdFJJcq51

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2025

Carr last played for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, but retired this offseason due to a shoulder injury that he declined to get surgery on.

The Saints would have to trade Carr’s contract to the Bengals, it likely would not have cost them too much. However, the Flacco trade likely meant that Carr did not want to head to Cincinnati at this time. While throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is an enticing sales pitch, it is offset by a haphazard offensive line that would risk putting Carr’s shoulder in even rougher shape.

However, seeing Carr’s name reappear on the radar suggests he is open to the idea of returning to football.

“I’m still just trying to get that back right from getting the shot and doing the rehab and all that,” Carr said on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “So I’m still doing those things. And so I always felt like, even though I’m done, if God wanted me to do it, I’ve got to be ready. I don’t want to go out there and not be ready, you know. So I’ll be ready, but I’m not coming back. Like, right now, today, I’m not coming back.”

Carr is not ready to come back to the NFL quite yet, but do not be surprised to see one of the best passers in Raiders franchise history back on the gridiron soon.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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