Fans and analysts weren't the only ones caught off guard by the news of Derek Carr's shoulder injury. Per ESPN's Katherine Terrell, some assistant coaches for the New Orleans Saints were "unaware" anything was wrong with Carr until it was reported. Terrell added it's "unknown" when the organization found out about it.

Breer highlighted the fact former Saints coach Dennis Allen was a large reason Carr was brought to New Orleans in 2023 and Oakland in 2014. With Allen being fired in November and a new regime stepping in, the writing is on the wall for a fresh start brewing, and even rumors that Carr himself might want out of New Orleans.

Derek Carr's shoulder injury could lower the Saints' floor in 2025, but moving on from him makes room for a higher ceiling in the long term.