Derek Carr has been battling through a training camp in New Orleans for the first time, so, naturally, he had a question to bounce off a former Saints signal-caller.
Drew Brees, in town for the inaugural NOLA Picklefest, was in attendance at Friday's practice inside the Caesars Superdome. As Carr was coming off the field he asked Brees:
"Did they cheat on y’alls routes, too, when you were here?" Carr said, answering a question from another Saints quarterback in Bobby Hebert about the defense having a bit too good understanding of what the offense was trying to do each play.
At times, Carr said, he's come out of the huddle and heard the defense calling out the offense's play. At one point coming off the field Friday after a long pass to Chris Olave over Alontae Taylor, Carr pointed out that they didn't see that coming. Maybe they know the script, maybe they don't, either way it's been forcing him to be extra perfect. It's meant some tough days in practice, but it's something that will only help when the actual games start.
"The windows are tight because sometimes they may know what’s coming, or not, maybe they just don’t know," Carr said. "But it is nice when you get into a game and they can’t just read the mail and know what it is."
That'll be the case starting on Sunday against the Chiefs, when Carr is expected to play in his first preseason game since ... your guess is as good as his. The new Saints QB couldn't actually remember, but he can confirm it didn't happen often. At one point he turned to former Raiders teammate Foster Moreau and asked whether they played in the 2022 preseason, because Carr didn't think they did.
"I did," Moreau said, drawing laughs.
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This time it sounds like a sure thing, with Dennis Allen indicating his starters -- including Carr -- will play, though he wouldn't commit to how many snaps. There will also be ample work handled by backup Jameis Winston and rookie Jake Haener.
Carr will play as much as he's asked, he said, and for good reason.
"When you’ve been cut and released, any chance you get to put a uniform on in an NFL game, take full advantage. They want me to play the whole game? I’ll play the whole game gladly, because I’m not going to take any of this for granted. So whatever he asks of us, it's usually not as much as you ever want it to be, because you’re started to feel good and then bam, you’re done. But whatever they ask me, I’ll do it.”
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