Darren Rizzi: Derek Carr week-to-week with left hand injury, in concussion protocol

A report on Monday indicated that Saints quarterback Derek Carr is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his left hand in Sunday's 14-11 win over the Giants, but Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi gave a more optimistic update on Carr's condition during his press conference.

Carr left the game after landing on his left hand while being hit at the end of a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter and Rizzi said after the game that he was also being evaluated for a concussion. On Monday, Rizzi confirmed that Carr is now in the concussion protocol while saying the hand injury is not something that will lead the Saints to rule him out for multiple weeks at this time.

"Derek’s dealing with a non-throwing hand injury," Rizzi said. "As it stands at this moment, I don't believe it's going to be an IR situation, I think it's going to be a week-to-week situation. We’re gonna kinda take this day by day this week. We’ll see how this week plays out. He is in the concussion protocol also so he’s gotta complete the first step of that tomorrow.”

The 5-8 Saints are still on the fringes of the NFC South race and their ability to stay there may impact any decisions about whether Carr will come back this season. A win over Washington in Week 15 will be a big part of any late run for the division and Rizzi declined to say if Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler would get the nod at quarterback if Carr is ruled out.