Saints fall 26-21 to the 49ers as Spencer Rattler makes his second start while Derek Carr’s shoulder injury and retirement cast a long shadow over New Orleans’ offense.

Rumors link Carr to a possible unretirement trade to Cincinnati during Joe Burrow’s absence, but health concerns and Cincinnati’s preference for Jake Browning make a deal unlikely. New Orleans pursues a youth movement while Week 2 injuries ripple across the league.

The coming weeks will test how quickly Rattler adapts and how aggressively teams adjust around backup QB situations in a league where roster churn is king.