Update shares when Saints could know if Derek Carr may be available for 2025 season

Before Derek Carr confirmed in late April that he was dealing with a shoulder injury that could sideline him for at least part of the 2025 season, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated indicated that the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback could "opt for surgery." 

On Tuesday night, NFL Network's Jane Slater (h/t Grant Gordon) reported that "Carr has been to New Orleans twice in recent weeks to meet with the Saints doctor at the team facility and his preference is to avoid shoulder surgery." Slater added that Carr's "reluctance to undergo surgery stems from having previously had a procedure on the same arm." That said, the 34-year-old is expected to make a final decision "sooner rather than later."

It sounds like the Saints could know about Carr's status before their mandatory minicamp wraps up on June 12.  

Questions about Carr's future in New Orleans arose when he made it known in January that he wouldn't take a pay cut. He was reportedly open to a trade before the Saints restructured his contract in March and before it was learned out of nowhere that his shoulder wasn't fully healthy. 

According to Slater, details about Carr's ailment didn't emerge earlier in the offseason because he didn't "notice" something was wrong until he started throwing "meaningfully" during the spring. 

The Saints seemingly responded to uncertainty regarding Carr's availability by selecting Louisville's Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. First-year head coach Kellen Moore became a big Shough fan ahead of the player-selection process, and some referred to the signal-caller who turns 26 years old this coming September as the most pro-ready quarterback in this year's class. 

While the Saints also have 2024 fifth-round draft pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round choice Jake Haener on the roster, Shough could enter training camp as the favorite to win the New Orleans starting job since Moore handpicked the first-year pro. 

Depending on how Shough performs from springtime practices through New Orleans' final preseason contest in August, Carr may never take another meaningful in-game snap for the club before the two sides part ways next offseason.