For the second consecutive week the Saints are running it down to a wire with a key player navigating the concussion protocol, but Derek Carr took a key step in that process on Friday.
The Saints starting QB was upgraded a full participant in practice, a necessary step to advance in the protocol. Carr is listed as questionable and his status will likely be unknown until Sunday, hinging on whether he is cleared by the independent neurologist. That was a similar case for WR Chris Olave, who played in Week 13 after clearing the protocol. Olave has again missed two days of practice as he battles the flu, but head coach Dennis Allen indicated he is likely to play.
If Carr can't go it will be Jameis Winston starting, with the pair splitting reps to some extent in practice this week.
See the full Saints injury report from Thursday below:
DNP = did not participate; LP = limited participation; FP = full participation
- DE Isaiah Foskey (quad): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- QB Taysom Hill (foot/left hand): DNP | DNP | DNP - questionable
- DE Cam Jordan (ankle): DNP | LP | LP - questionable
- RB Kendre Miller (ankle): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- WR Rashid Shaheed (thigh): DNP | DNP | DNP - questionable
- QB Derek Carr (concussion/rib/right shoulder): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- TE Jimmy Graham (NIR-rest): LP | n/a | n/a
- TE Juwan Johnson (quad): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- C Erik McCoy (shoulder): LP | FP | FP
- LT Andrus Peat (shoulder): LP | LP | FP
- RT Ryan Ramczyk (NIR-rest/knee): LP | FP | FP
- LB Pete Werner (shoulder/oblique): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- K Blake Grupe (right groin): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- WR Chris Olave (illness): n/a | DNP | DNP - questionable
- G Nick Saldiveri (shoulder): n/a | n/a | FP - questionable
Carr and Olave are just two of the nine Saints players listed as questionable, the highest total for any game this season. Two players, Rashid Shaheed (thigh) and Taysom Hill (hand/foot) did not practice all week but have not yet been ruled out. The two players ruled out are RB Kendre Miller, who has had a slow recovery from an ankle injury suffered in Week 9, and DE Isaiah Foskey, who reaggravated a quad injury during the loss to the Lions.
On the Panthers' side there are two players ruled out, including TE Hayden Hurst, who is also dealing with a concussion. The other player is DE DeShawn Williams, while five others have been listed as questionable.
See the Panthers final injury report below.
- CB Troy Hill (ankle/NIR-rest): DNP | LP | LP
- OT Taylor Moton (knee/NIR-rest): DNP | LP | FP
- WR Adam Thielen (NIR-rest): DNP | n/a | n/a
- DE DeShawn Williams (knee): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- S Vonn Bell (shoulder): LP | LP | FP
- C Bradley Bozeman (ankle): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- S Jeremy Chinn (quadricep): LP | LP | LP
- OLB Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring: LP | LP | LP - questionable
- OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. (back): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- CB Jaycee Horn (hamstring): LP | LP | LP
- TE Hayden Hurst (concussion): LP | LP | LP - out
- TE Stephen Sullivan (shoulder): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- TE Tommy Tremble (hip): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- OLB Amare Barno (ankle): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- OLB D.J. Johnson (NIR-personal): n/a | DNP | n/a
The Saints (5-7) have lost three consecutive games and host the Panthers (1-11) at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
