The New Orleans Saints say veteran quarterback Derek Carr has decided to retire because of a labral tear in his right shoulder and “significant degenerative changes” to his rotator cuff.

While the Saints were aware that Carr may not be available for Week 1, his departure creates a hole in the quarterback room. Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough are currently on the depth chart and Shough could be the favorite to land the Week 1 role.

The Saints drafted Tyler Shough out of Louisville in the second round of this year's draft, and they picked Spencer Rattler out of South Carolina last year. The latter made six starts last year after Carr was knocked out for the season with a fractured non-throwing hand.