The New Orleans Saints will be without their top quarterback, running back and receiver for their Week 16 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave were all listed as out for Monday night’s game in the team’s official injury report on Saturday.
Carr is dealing with a fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand that could end his season. He didn’t play in Week 15’s 20–19 loss to the Washington Commanders. Carr has played in 10 of the Saints’ 14 games this season, missing time with an oblique injury.
For the season, he’s thrown for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 67.7% of his passes. Carr is under contract for two more seasons for $70 million unless the Saints decide to move on.
Kamara was also injured in Week 15, sustaining a groin injury that interim coach Darren Rizzi said was “a little bit more significant” than originally thought and could require surgery. The running back had played in all 14 of New Orleans’ games this season and put up the best numbers of his career.
He’s rushed for a career-high 950 yards (amazingly, Kamara has never rushed for 1,000 yards) and is also the team’s leading pass-catcher with 68 receptions for 543 yards. Altogether, Kamara has scored eight touchdowns this season. He is also signed for the next two years at a total salary of $15 million.
Olave is New Orleans’ top wide receiver with 32 catches for 400 yards and a touchdown. He hasn’t played since Week 9 after being placed on injured reserve due to suffering two concussions in his first eight games.
The Saints are 5–9 with three games remaining on the schedule. That puts them third in the NFC South, two games behind the Atlanta Falcons and two ahead of the Carolina Panthers. Though unlikely to make the playoffs, New Orleans is still mathematically alive going into Week 16.
