Raiders defense preparing for all the ‘different toolsets’ in the Saints’ quarterback room

This will be a unique week of preparation for the Raiders defense.

The Saints’ presumed starter Derek Carr, who is the Raiders’ all-time passing yards leader, suffered a hand injury and concussion in Week 14 against the New York Giants. On the verge of missing his third straight game, Saints Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi said Carr’s grip strength is “improving” and is hoping he can suit up Sunday against his former team.

If Carr is not able to go, Rizzi stated 2024 fourth-round pick Spencer Rattler would, as of now, start again. Rattler has struggled in his starts this season, going 0-4 when Carr is out. On Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers, he committed two turnovers and went 15-of-30 for 155 passing yards.

Nevertheless, the unpredictably of who’ll be under center still provides a challenge for the Silver and Black.

“The answer is never going to change. We always get ready for the quarterbacks. … Getting ready for those guys, [they] all have different toolsets,” defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Thursday. “For me as the coordinator, I’ve got to look at all of them. The coaching staff, we’ve got to just be prepared because somebody could get hurt in the game. So, you’ve got to be ready for that. And then for us, leading into this game, obviously there’s a lot of gray we’re dealing with. But their scheme’s their scheme. We have to have an idea if we have to adjust based on who they put out there.

“We’ll have more information with the injury reports and things of that nature,” he added. “And then from there, in terms of how we allocate the time and practice if there is a change in scheme, I got to take an educated guess as the defensive coordinator in terms of what we’re going to practice and be ready to adjust. I think they all have three specific toolsets that provide challenges for us as a defense. But more importantly,…