Latest Derek Carr injury update is a good news-bad news situation for the Bucs

The New Orleans Saints lost more than just a game on Monday night in Kansas City.

While the Saints were thoroughly handled by the Chiefs, quarterback Derek Carr left in the fourth quarter with what the team called an oblique injury. He didn't return for the rest of the game, and it now appears he'll remain out when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to New Orleans for a huge divisional matchup on Sunday afternoon.

It's a massive break for the Bucs, who need a bounceback game after what happened last Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Not only does Tampa Bay need a win, but beating the Saints would get them some help in the race for an NFC South crown and send a rival further down the standings.

Not having Carr in that matchup is an advantage for Tampa Bay, but the Saints are trying to throw a wrench in things in a way that historically works against the Bucs.

Saints might start Spencer Rattler with Derek Carr expected to miss Week 6 vs. Buccaneers

According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Derek Carr is expected to miss 'multiple games', including this Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Further thickening the plot is who New Orleans would start in his place, with early indications being that rookie Spencer Rattler could make his debut in Week 6.

This naturally has Buccaneers fans a bit nervous.

In theory, facing a team without its starting quarterback should be an advantage but the Bucs seem to have a hard time against rookies. C.J. Stroud did such terrible things to Tampa Bay's defense that it has rightfully scarred fans, but things might not be as bad as they seem.

Over a seven year period at the start of the 2010s, Tampa Bay was a miserable 1-11 against rookie quarterbacks. However, NFC South things have gotten much better in recent years, as the Bucs are 11-6 against rookie quarterbacks, which includes the loss in the 2022 finale where they rested starters against the Falcons and Desmond Ridder.

Lest we forget what a healthy Buccaneers defense did against Jayden Daniels in Week 1. Tampa Bay's trashing of a guy who could become the first rookie to win MVP since Jim Brown continues to age well, and is something fans should look at over what happened against Stroud a year ago.

Whether it's Rattler or Jake Haener, the Buccaneers have an obvious advantage heading into a critical Week 6 game that wasn't there before. Losing to a backup or third-string quarterback isn't something a contending team should do, which means all Tampa Bay has to do is play up to the level we know its capable of and things will get back on track.

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