Saints’ Derek Carr calls out ‘people lying about me’ at church event as injury rumors swirl

Derek Carr finally addressed his mysterious shoulder injury — and it came in an unexpected setting, in an unexpected manner.

“I hate that I have to say this but I have to say this: yes, I have a shoulder injury,” Carr said in a church service in Las Vegas on Sunday. “Despite what ESPN says and what some lady on a podcast might think, okay? I have an MRI report to prove it, the team knows about it. We’ve been in constant communication, there’s nothing wrong, we’re figuring it out and we’re going to go forward with that.”

The shoulder injury seemingly popped up out of nowhere during the offseason. It was reported that it “threatens his availability for this season” and that he may need surgery. 

With the vagueness and lack of in-depth reports, the public reaction to the injury sparked plenty of speculation and rumors — including that the injury was perhaps exaggerated to force New Orleans’ hand with a trade.

“I’ve been dealing with people lying about me, I’ve been dealing with them saying this and that,” Carr said. “You never know what someone’s really going through. And so, why do we continually try to attack people — and I would say attack people that are trying to do things maybe the right way?”

The 34-year-old is entering the third year of a four-year, $150 million contract he signed with New Orleans in 2023. He played just 10 games last season due to oblique and hand injuries.

The Saints drafted Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round — with Carr’s health and future uncertain.

Perhaps the NFL world just wanted some more clarity on Carr’s random offseason injury, but he didn’t see it that way.

“Why do we always have to have an opinion? Twitter and Instagram has ruined things for some people because now all these people think that they have voices that have to be heard,” he went on during the church service. “Some people’s voices don’t need to be heard right now, I just got to be honest with you because not one of our opinions in here matters — did you know that? The only opinion that matters is that text right there, it is the word of God and everything must bow at that.”