Carr revved up for playoff game
Benicia grad ready for playoff game with Bears
With 14 minutes, 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter last week, Drew Brees completed an 11-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Austin Carr.
In some respects, it was just a meaningless touchdown in the Saints’ 33-7 romp over the Panthers. For Carr, a Benicia High grad, it meant much more. And it might be more significant for Brees at some point.
The score was the first of the season for Carr, who endured an injury-plagued 2019 campaign where he eventually had to undergo ankle surgery. He appeared in six games in 2020 after starting the year on the practice squad.
“I would say this season for me was a comeback season,” Carr told the Times-Herald on Friday. “Coming off ankle reconstructive surgery was no joke. I wanted to prove I could contribute again and show I was healthy. I wanted to prove I could play wide receiver at a high level again.”
Carr said the ankle was often “stiff and sore” early in the year and it took him some time to get back to full capacity.
Brees, the iconic New Orleans quarterback, hasn’t dismissed the idea that this season could be his last. He has played in the NFL for 20 years, so that 571st touchdown pass could be his last of his Hall of Fame career — at least for the regular season.
“It’s funny but the first two touchdowns of my career I forgot to keep,” Carr said, chuckling. “This time, I remembered and I kept it. I didn’t think about it until the next day that this could be (Brees’) last touchdown.”
Carr noted that he took a good shot from the Carolina safety in the end zone but was able to hold onto
the ball.
A week earlier, Carr nearly caught the third touchdown of his career but was ruled barely out of bounds against the Vikings. The play went under review but was ruled incomplete.
“It was a play-action play and the Vikings blitzed,” Carr said. “Drew threw an incredible ball and I was able to track it but they ruled it out of bounds. I had both feet in except my pinkie toe.”
After breaking school records as a running back at Benicia High, he starred as a wide receiver at Northwestern. Despite being one of the top targets in the Big Ten, he wasn’t drafted but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots. Carr eventually found a more permanent spot with the Saints.
Carr said as of Friday evening, he was slated to be on the playoff roster for the game against the Bears. New Orleans’ All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas and All-Pro returner Deonte Harris were back at practice this week after being hampered by injuries.
“There’s always a lot of moving pieces,” Carr said. “The important thing is to stay prepared.”
Carr spent more time this season working on special teams. He returned one punt in his six games.
“I think I have been able to build some confidence on special teams,” he said. “I always understood the X’s and O’s of returning kicks but I was able to feel more comfortable on the field. It’s just a matter of getting experience there.”
In his four seasons in the NFL, this is the first time Carr has experienced playing in front of no fans. Only a handful of teams have allowed fans this season and even those have been in limited capacity.
“It’s been odd to say the least,” he said. “I think the game kind of takes fans for granted. In Week 1, I was sitting in the stands with the other players from the practice squad and you could hear the squeak of the field goal net. I never knew that thing made noise. You hear so many more things. It took me back to high school a little bit.”
The coronavirus pandemic has changed life for Carr as he has tried to limit his contact to his wife and baby outside of practice and games.
“I think everyone has had to take steps and make sacrifices,” he said. “One of the toughest things was not seeing my parents for a long time but I was able to see them and my siblings around Christmas time.”
On a personal note Carr and his wife Erica purchased their first home in the New Orleans area, and Austin is enjoying being a first-time dad. Austin noted that his son will begin walking sometime during this offseason, so it should be a busy time.
“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I never thought someone who could take so much from me would also bring me such joy.”