Derek Carr injury could have a massive impact on Bucs-Saints game in Week 6

This upcoming Sunday was already going to be a massive game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team is coming off one of its most embarrassing losses, collapsing late in a Thursday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Tampa Bay is in the middle of an absolute gauntlet of games that won't ease up until November. So far they've managed a 1-1 start to the stretch, one that includes games against the Ravens, Chiefs, and 49ers.

All eyes are on Week 6, which features a matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs have a chance to not only even up its divisional record, but can push their rivals even further down the NFC South standings with a win.

It's a game the Bucs need to bounce back strong in after what happened against the Falcons, and it's one that might have gotten a little easier after Derek Carr suffered an injury on Monday night.

Buccaneers might have an extra edge over Saints after latest Derek Carr injury

Carr left the Saints' loss to Kansas City in the fourth quarter, heading to the locker room with what the team later called an oblique injury. What the extent of that injury is will be revealed in the coming days, but the Saints don't have a lot of those ahead of them before needing to be ready to play Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Carr did not return, which meant backup Jake Haener finished things out. It could be that Tampa Bay sees the second-year quarterback under center in six days, although Carr is one of the toughest quarterbacks in the league and will likely battle back even harder knowing how massive Sunday's game is.

With the Saints now 2-3, another divisional loss will put them in a tough spot. New Orleans has already lost to the Falcons and being two games down with a sub-.500 record isn't going to cut it in this new-and-improved NFC South.

Tampa Bay facing a newbie quarterback has some fans feeling anxious, but lest we forget that it's not as gloomy as it seems. C.J. Stroud scarred fans, rightfully so, but remember that facing Will Levis went much differently, and we're five weeks removed from the Bucs dominating Jayden Daniels.

Haener might not have a lot of film for the Bucs to grind, but he's also not a first round quarterback like those other guys. Playing the Saints is never easy, but doing it against a quarterback making his first ever start would would be a nice little advantage.

Tampa Bay is coming off a brutal loss to Atlanta, one that should already have them fired up, and getting to go against Haener could give them even more of an edge. Carr should be expected to play until there's some definitive word otherwise, but his health is no doubt something to monitor this week as Sunday's matchup just got even more intriguing than it already was.

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