When Derek Carr threw his first touchdown pass in the Caesars Superdome, it was Keith Kirkwood on the receiving end of it.
It was a name that might've surprised some fans in attendance, even if it's a name they'd been hearing since 2019. But anyone who had watched training camp practices has seen that connection develop since the early days of the offseason.
"I’m just really proud of him, to be able to get a touchdown, I know it’s a preseason game, but they still all feel good," Carr said.
Both players have told the story of their early morning lifting sessions early in camp. The new QB is in the 6:30 lifting group, and you can guess another attendee in Kirkwood himself. The veteran, WR who first joined the Saints as a UDFA out of Temple before a few seasons with the Panthers, is in constant communication with his new QB. He's also shown off impressive hands, hauling in a one-handed grab in the same corner of the endzone during the team's Superdome practice on Friday.
“I think that it’s [about] his hard work and his determination," Carr said. "He’s a veteran player. He understands what it takes."
There will be questions going forward in terms of the final 53-man roster. Kirkwood spent the majority of the 2022 season on the practice squad. Will his connection with Carr be enough to help him make the final cut, unseating a young player or maybe an established veteran like Tre'Quan Smith?
Kirkwood will continue to get chances to show he deserves a spot on the roster as the team heads out to L.A. this week for a pair of joint practices with the Chargers ahead of a Week 2 preseason showdown on Sunday.
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