Saints quarterback Derek Carr stated publicly for the first time that he has a shoulder injury, but the former Oakland Raider stopped short of disclosing any specifics about how or when it happened, or how it might affect his availability to play during the coming season.

“I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this: Yes, I have a shoulder injury,” Carr said while delivering a guest sermon at a church in Las Vegas on Sunday.

“I have an MRI report to prove it,” Carr continued. “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. Is that OK?”

“I’ve been dealing with people lying about me ... and I’m like, ‘Lord, why do I have to continue to deal with this nonsense?” Carr continued. “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 maybe trying to do things the right way?”

Carr’s sermon took place two days after the Saints used their second-round pick — the 40th overall — in this year’s NFL draft, to select Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough.

The Saints picked Shough two days after the club’s general manager, Mickey Loomis, acknowledged publicly that Carr has “an issue” with his shoulder about which the Saints are seeking more “clarity.”

Shedeur Sanders was not the only prospect to receive a prank call during the NFL draft.

Kyle McCord, the former Syracuse quarterback who was taken by the Eagles last weekend, told Philadelphia-area media that someone tried to prank him while the draft was ongoing.

The father of Cleveland Browns top pick, former Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, also told the Detroit Free Press that someone had made a TikTok while calling Graham and showed his number on video. “His phone was getting called nonstop,” Allen Graham told the Free Press via text message.

The call to Sanders, who was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round, made headlines Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons said that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son was responsible. Sanders received a prank call on Friday night, the second day of the draft, while waiting.

The Falcons released a statement saying 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich “unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.”

The Washington Commanders made an offseason change at kicker, signing veteran Matt Gay and releasing Zane Gonzalez.

A source told the AP that Gay signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with $4.35 million guaranteed.

Gay spent the past two NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. They cut him earlier this month to save $3 million against the salary cap.

Last season, he made all 28 of his field-goal attempts from 49 yards or shorter and was 33 of 33 on extra points. He was 3 of 9 from 50-plus yards.

Now 31, Gay should stabilize the position for the Commanders after they used four kickers last season and did not pick one in the draft last week. Gay was a Pro Bowl pick in 2021 when he helped the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel reached an agreement on a one-year, $23 million contract extension coming off his first Pro Bowl selection and a career-high 11 1/2 sacks last season.

The deal, negotiated with the Vikings by Van Ginkel’s agents Drew Rosenhaus and Jason Rosenhaus, includes $22.4 million guaranteed. The 29-year-old Van Ginkel tied with teammate Jonathan Greenard for fourth in the NFL in 2024 with 18 tackles for loss.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Alijah Arenas, the USC basketball recruit who was involved in a fiery vehicle accident, has no major injuries and is expected to be leaving the hospital.

The 18-year-old son of former Warrior Gilbert Arenas was removed from an induced coma last Friday, a day after the crash in the Reseda section of the San Fernando Valley.

“Happy to announce that Alijah is doing much better,” Josiah Johnson, a host of the elder Arenas’ podcast, said Monday. “Just got off the phone with Gil. ... Alijah’s doing better, walking, talking, progressing very well, should be released from the hospital very soon. No major injuries as a result of the car accident.”

Johnson said the younger Arenas was returning from the gym when he “lost control” of the Tesla Cybertruck he was driving. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the vehicle crashed into a tree and/or fire hydrant.

TENNIS

Power was restored at the Caja Magica tennis complex and the Madrid Open resumed with a packed schedule that included second-ranked Iga Swiatek advancing to the quarterfinals after a “more relaxed” day because of the blackout.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka made into the last eight by defeating Peyton Stearns in straight sets. On the men’s side, top-seeded Alexander Zverev was upset by Francisco Cerundolo, 7-5, 6-3.

HOCKEY

A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been told he will not face any charges, British prosecutors said.

Johnson played for the Nottingham Panthers and died shortly after his neck had been sliced in a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave during a game on Oct. 28, 2023.

A man was arrested two weeks later and though South Yorkshire Police did not publicly identify him, Petgrave himself said in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees that he was the subject of a police investigation.

On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not bring criminal charges against the man arrested following what it described as “a shocking and deeply upsetting incident.”