Who Should I Start? Derek Carr or Desmond Ridder

Monday, October 21, 6:51 PM

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said the plan is to stick with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler (hip) if Derek Carr (oblique) is unable to play in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Allen feels that Rattler has played well when he has been protected. Meanwhile, Carr had a throwing session on Monday and will have another on Tuesday as the team continues to evaluate him. The Saints pulled Rattler late in a blowout loss to the Denver Broncos last Thursday due to a hip-pointer injury, but he appears to be on track to play this weekend if Carr isn't cleared. The 24-year-old was dominated by a good Broncos defense last week and threw for 172 yards and no TDs while losing two fumbles. He's been sacked 11 times in his first two NFL starts and could be without top wideout Chris Olave (concussion) again this week. If Rattler makes a third straight start, he'll be a desperation low-end QB2 against the Bolts.

Monday, October 21, 8:16 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Desmond Ridder off of the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad on Monday, according to sources. Ridder will give the Raiders extra QB depth after the team placed Aidan O'Connell (thumb) on Injured Reserve after he fractured his right thumb in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury. Ridder, the former third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of Cincinnati, did not see the field at all in Arizona and is coming off a 2023 campaign in Atlanta that saw him throw for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.2% of his pass attempts. For now, he'll serve as Gardner Minshew II's backup with the Raiders. If he's forced into action, Ridder will be a desperation QB2, at best, in superflex formats.