Saints QB Derek Carr in concussion protocol, week-to-week with hand injury

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is officially considered week-to-week after he injured his left hand late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants.

Carr will reportedly miss "several weeks" with a hand fracture, and with only four weeks remaining in the regular season, his season could be over unless the Saints make the postseason. New Orleans is 5-8, two games behind Tampa Bay and one game behind Atlanta in the NFC South race. 

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi told reporters that Carr would not be placed on IR. "We're going to kind of take this day-by-day this week [and] going to see how this week plays out, but that's really where we are right now," he said.

He also confirmed that the 33-year-old quarterback is in concussion protocol. 

On Sunday, Carr was injured upon crashing into the turf after he went airborne trying to get a first down. He tried to leap over a Giants tackler and landed at the New Orleans 39-yard line, extending his non-throwing hand to break his fall. He was on the turf for a couple of minutes before walking to the medical tent. 

"A phenomenal effort trying to make a first down," Rizzi said of the play that happened with the Saints leading 14-11 and just under four minutes remaining.

Carr finished 20 of 31 for 219 yards with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson in the third quarter. He also led a 98-yard drive that Kendre Miller capped off with a 6-yard run in the first quarter. New Orleans won for the third time in four games under Rizzi, who took over last month after Dennis Allen was fired.

Jake Haener replaced Carr, and the Saints held on for the win when defensive tackle Bryan Bresee got a thumb on Graham Gano's game-tying 35-yard field goal attempt.

Carr missed three games earlier this season with an oblique injury. Rookie Spencer Rattler started in his place and threw for 571 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Saints went 0-3 in those games, and Rattler was benched for Haener halfway through his third start. 

Carr's injury is just the latest blow for New Orleans' offense, which has lost several key playmakers to season-ending injuries, including Chris Olave (concussions), Rashid Shaheed (meniscus) and Taysom Hill (ACL).  

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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