Derek Carr‘s surprise return to the field after a shoulder injury raised hopes for theNew Orleans Saints, but the reality was far from their expectations. Carr’s struggle to lead the Saints offense was evident, and it resulted in a 26-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
One week after spraining his throwing shoulder in a matchup against Green Bay, Carr’s limited practice time in the past week left him unprepared for the formidable Buccaneers defense. Carr completed 23 of 37 passes for just 127 yards and was sacked three times, marking the second consecutive loss for the Saints, who now stand at 2-2 for the season.
The Saints were counting on the return of star running back Alvin Kamara from a three-game suspension to provide a much-needed offensive spark. Kamara touched the ball 24 times, combining 11 carries with 13 receptions, but managed only 84 yards from scrimmage. His presence, though welcome, couldn’t salvage the struggling Saints offense.
One of the key moments of frustration for the Saints came when Carr had top receiver Chris Olave open deep downfield twice during one drive. Unfortunately, Carr’s throws didn’t live up to the opportunity. The first underthrown pass allowed the Buccaneers defense to recover, and on the second, safety Antoine Winfield managed to catch up with Olave and make a diving break-up in the end zone, preventing a potential touchdown.
On the opposing side, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had a productive day, throwing three touchdown passes that contributed significantly to Tampa Bay’s victory.
The Saints faced additional challenges, as tight end Juwan Johnson was active but unable to play due to a pre-game calf injury. Additionally, guard Andrus Peat left the game in the second half for evaluation for a possible concussion.
Looking ahead, the Saints will need to regroup and find solutions as they prepare to face the New England Patriots next Sunday. With a struggling offense and a 2-2 record, they’ll have to make some adjustments to get their season back on track.
