When quarterback Jameis Winston entered Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings with 7:32 left in the third quarter, the New Orleans Saints trailed by 24 points.

When Winston’s Hail Mary from the Minnesota 48-yard line hit the turf in the end zone on the final snap, the Saints had a 27-19 loss.

Winston came in when Derek Carr left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. Even though Winston sparked the New Orleans’ offense, the former Hueytown High School standout is not going to replace Carr unless he can’t play, Saints coach Dennis Allen said.

“We’ll see where Derek’s at,” Allen said. “I don’t think – well, I know we’re not in a competition there. I thought Jameis did some good things. But Derek Carr’s our starting quarterback.”

Winston won New Orleans’ No. 1 QB job for 2021 after Drew Brees retired. But Winston got hurt in the seventh game of the season and missed the rest of the campaign.

Back as the starter in 2022, Winston got hurt again in the third game of the season and didn’t play again.

In the offseason, the Saints signed Carr after he’d spent the previous 10 seasons as the starting quarterback with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.

“It’s always next-man-up mentality, and everybody out there is just grateful for their opportunities,” Winston said. “… I’m grateful every time I get out there. I just want to finish.”

Winston entered the game with the Saints facing third-and-1 at the Minnesota 36. A 2-yard run by running back Alvin Kamara on fourth down kept the drive alive as New Orleans bypassed a field-goal attempt trailing 27-3.

Winston cashed in the new set of downs with back-to-back passes to wide receiver Chris Olave to reach the end zone. Kamara followed the TD with a 2-point conversion run.

In the fourth quarter, Winston connected with Olave again for a 26-yard gain on fourth-and-2 at the Minnesota 43. Three snaps later, Winston completed a 15-yard pass to wide receiver A.T. Perry for the sixth-round rookie’s first touchdown reception.

Kamara again scored the 2-point conversion, and New Orleans trailed by eight with 11:40 to play.

But the Vikings intercepted two deep passes by Winston in the remaining time, and the Saints’ final possession started with only six seconds remaining.

“I thought Jameis did some good things in the game,” Allen said. “He got a couple of explosive plays. We were able to score a couple of touchdowns, a couple of 2-point conversions. I thought there were some good things he did in terms of the passing game. It’s obviously a tough situation to come into when you’re down that many points and the team knows you’re going to have to throw the ball. I thought under all those circumstances he did a good job.”

Winston completed 13-of-25 passes for 122 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Carr had completed 13-of-18 passes for 110 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions when he left.

Carr has completed 220-of-334 yards with 2,231 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Winston will be on standby, but Carr will have extra time to recover. The Saints are entering their bye week and don’t play again until Nov. 26, when they visit the Atlanta Falcons for an NFC South game.

At 5-5, New Orleans still has the best record in the division, pending the outcome of the Falcons’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Atlanta carried a 4-5 record into that contest.

“If I’m given the opportunity, I promise you I’ll be doing my best to execute, stay disciplined and give my team all I got,” Winston said. “But, man, we got a great group of guys, so I know any and everybody will be ready.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.