New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener speaks with a bandage on his face throughout a information convention at NFL soccer coaching camp, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Irvine, Calif. Haener is balancing a latest pores and skin most cancers analysis together with his effort to safe a job backing up starter Derek Carr. (AP Picture/Kyusung Gong)
By Brett Martel
The Related Press
IRVINE — New Orleans Saints reserve quarterback Jake Haener is balancing a latest pores and skin most cancers analysis together with his effort to safe a job backing up starter Derek Carr.
Haener, who starred at quarterback for Danville’s Monte Vista Excessive, shared his analysis when he was requested a few small round adhesive bandage on his proper cheek.
The 25-year-old, second-year professional out of Fresno State declined to share the precise analysis, however mentioned he realized a bit greater than per week in the past that he had a type of pores and skin most cancers which is uncommon for individuals his age.
“It’s type of one thing that simply popped up. I used to be type of apprehensive about it. My household was type of apprehensive about it. It was type of this random bump,” Haener mentioned.
The 2023 fourth-round draft alternative noticed a dermatologist, had the blemish eliminated and the biopsy produced a most cancers analysis.
Haener, who has participated within the Saints’ first three practices of camp on the campus of the College of California at Irvine, mentioned he’s uncertain in regards to the extent to which his analysis will intervene together with his soccer schedule.
He has an appointment on Aug. 1, after which docs will determine a course of remedy and the way lengthy he would possibly be capable of delay that remedy if it might intervene together with his NFL profession.
“When issues like that pop up, you’ve received to go maintain it,” Haener mentioned. “My household was nice. The (Saints’) coaching employees has been nice about coping with it with me.”
Haener’s mom, longtime KTVU-TV information anchor Julie Haener, introduced her retirement final month after 27 years with the tv station.
Jake Haener is the second Saints participant in two years to have a most cancers analysis. Final summer time, ex-Raiders tight finish Foster Moreau underwent remedy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His most cancers was in full remission earlier than coaching camp and he performed in 15 video games final season.
Haener sounded optimistic about his prospects for a full restoration.
“I’m OK mentally. It’s simply one thing I’ve received to maintain and do the required steps,” Haener mentioned. “I really feel like I’m fairly younger and wholesome to have the ability to have one thing like that pop up, however I wish to maintain it. I wish to be accountable about it — clearly not make it a distraction as a result of I’m going to be positive … I don’t wish to wait too lengthy with one thing like this. I wish to get it dealt with.”
