The Saints hope to get a boost from Carr’s return and end a six-game losing streak in a rematch against the Panthers.

The Saints are 3-0 against Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and have won their last two games by a combined 59 points.

Saints coach Dennis Allen said his team’s dominant Week 1 win meant nothing for this week.

“Zero,” Allen said. “This game was eight weeks ago. What matters is what we do this week in practice. It’s what we do in the game that matters.”

Under first-year head coach Dave Canales, the Panthers haven’t shown much improvement on either side of the ball. Only three teams have scored more points in eight games in the Super Bowl era, and the offense remains close to or last in the league in most statistical categories.

Carr, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards and threw a first-half touchdown in the opener, will look to exploit a leaky Carolina secondary that has allowed a league-leading 17 touchdowns.

But he is trying to avoid the temptation to take on too much of a role in an offense desperate to get out of its recent rut.

“I’m not a savior,” Carr said. “I’m here to be a great leader, a great teammate and do my job to the best of my ability. Do I feel confident in my abilities? Absolutely.”

Young gets the nod again

Young, previously on the bench, will be make your second start in a row Andy Dalton, 37, is still recovering from a dislocated right thumb he suffered in a car accident last week.

A starter in the NFL, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, going 2-17 and throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes in his short and disappointing career. While trade rumors continue to swirl around Young, the Panthers don’t appear to be interested in moving him at this time.

“I’m really excited for Bryce to have another opportunity to build on what he started (and) continue to just grow and gain invaluable experience being on the field and calling the game and doing that,” Canales said.

Carr fixed it

Carr said pain hasn’t been a big problem for him the past three weeks.

His tight oblique muscle was too weak to allow him to maintain proper throwing mechanics. At first, the recipe for recovery was rest, which meant he couldn’t even pick up his children, which he said was “probably the hardest thing.”

“I literally had no choice but to wait and let it heal,” Carr said.

Over the past few weeks, he has gradually increased the number of shots he throws in an attempt to avoid failure.

Johnson’s replacement

Panthers traded No. 1 wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Baltimore earlier this week and will lean heavily on rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker moving forward. There’s a chance veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen will return to the lineup this week after missing the last five games with a hamstring injury.

Legette said Young showed more confidence in Coker and him last week against Denver by tossing the ball and letting them play. Legette and Coker both caught TD passes in Carolina’s 28-14 loss to the Broncos.

“I definitely trust (Xavier); I trust all of our receivers,” Young said. “There are a lot of great plays in this league, a lot of tight windows and tough shots.”

Secondary adjustments

Saints guard Alonte Taylor, who spent much of the last two seasons moving from guard to guard, looks set to return to perimeter defense this week.

Part of that is because it’s unclear whether cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be able to return from a nagging hamstring injury.

“I guess you could say I came home,” Taylor said. “But I’m really trying to figure out what I can do to give us a better chance of winning games.

With guard Paulson Adebo out for the season with a broken leg and Lattimore battling an injury, Taylor is now one of the most experienced and standout guards on the roster.

“I think the best thing I can do is just keep flying,” Taylor said. “I have to set the best example for the young guys and lead them in the best way.”

Brooks making his NFL debut?

The Panthers were cautious in taking rookie running back Jonathan Brooks, their second-round draft pick, as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last year at Texas.

But there’s a chance Brooks will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Saints.

Brooks will bring a home run threat to the Panthers’ backfield that they currently lack. Chuba Hubbard has been tough, reliable and arguably the team’s most productive player this season.

However, Brooks has an explosive style that can lead to big plays.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.

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