Saints GM: Carr made plays we haven't seen here for a while in debut
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is pleased with what he saw from Derek Carr during the quarterback's debut with the team on Sunday.
"I think he did more than (manage the game)," Loomis said of Carr on the "Saints Coaches Show." "He made some plays that we haven't seen made here for a while. Off-platform throws, plays breaking down, him solving problems. He did a lot of really good things."
The Saints, who signed Carr to a four-year deal in the offseason, have been looking for stability at quarterback since Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season. New Orleans started five different QBs and didn't make the playoffs between 2021-22. Jameis Winston led the team with seven starts two years ago, while Andy Dalton started 14 games last season.
Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler who spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 305 yards and one touchdown against one interception in Week 1, helping the Saints claim a 16-15 home victory in his first game with the club.
Loomis specifically praised Carr for his aggressiveness late in the matchup versus Tennessee. The 32-year-old completed a 41-yard pass to receiver Rashid Shaheed on a third-and-6 with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter and the Saints leading by one. Running back Jamaal Williams was then able to convert another first down a few plays later to seal the victory for New Orleans.
"I always appreciate when you go out and you try to win a game as opposed to trying not to lose a game," Loomis said. "It was a hallmark of Sean Payton's time here as a head coach, he was always trained to call plays to win games and I appreciate that when you do that. Look, sometimes it doesn't work out, but I think that's the best way to play in the NFL."
A postgame video showed a mic'd-up Carr asking the Saints' coaching staff for "another shot" at throwing to Shaheed on a go route before the team's game-winning drive. Carr then told Shaheed, "Be ready if I give you a go route to end this thing."
Carr's pass to Shaheed traveled 51.7 yards and was the longest completion by air yards during the NFL's early Week 1 slate, according to Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
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