The New Orleans Saints have decided to start second-year quarterback Jake Haener against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday night.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced.

The decision, first reported by the New Orleans Football website, indicates the Saints have deemed starter Derek Carr too injured to play this week.

Carr was concussed and injured his left, non-throwing hand during the Saints’ 14-11 victory over the New York Giants last Sunday.

Haener is a 2023 fourth-round draft choice out of Fresno State who is slated to make his first career NFL start this weekend. He has passed for 177 yards and one TD without an interception in seven career appearances — all this season.

broncos sign tackle Bolles to extension

The Denver Broncos signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year extension, locking up a big piece to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Bolles has spent his entire career with the organization after being drafted out of Utah with the 20th overall pick in 2017. After an up-and-down start in Denver, Bolles has developed into a dependable pass protector. He’s allowed one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts this season. What’s more, his 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest mark among tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats.

raiders’ snowden arrested on DUI charge

Las Vegas Raiders football player Charles Snowden was arrested in Las Vegas on a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge and released from police custody with a court date set for April, authorities said.

Snowden, a 26-year-old first-year defensive end, was arrested early Tuesday after Las Vegas police responded to a report of a “suspicious” vehicle near a busy intersection southwest of the Las Vegas Strip, according to court records and police reports.

His attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, acknowledged the arrest but declined to describe the circumstances, and the Raiders said Thursday that the team was in contact with the NFL and local authorities about “the incident involving Charles Snowden.”

“The club will not comment further as this is a legal matter,” the team statement said.

“Mr. Snowden will be entering a not guilty plea and we will respond in court, which is the appropriate forum,” his attorneys said. Snowden is due to face a judge on April 15.

It was not immediately clear if the arrest would affect Snowden’s status with the team. He has played every game this season, including in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida. The Raiders next play Monday, hosting the Atlanta Falcons in Las Vegas.

texans WR collins says he was fined for throwing ball to fan

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins was fined about $5,000 this week for throwing a football into the stands after a touchdown against the Titans.

Collins said it was “definitely worth it” because it was a little kid who caught the ball.

“The only thing that matters was making that kid happy,” he said Thursday.