Instead, the Boro head coach claims a final decision will be made on the future of both Howson and Anfernee Dijksteel in the next few days.
Howson’s current contract is due to expire next month, and it is not yet clear whether Boro will offer their club captain another 12-month deal. Even if they do, Howson will have to decide whether he wants to continue playing for another season given that he will turn 37 later this month.
Having lined up at centre-half as Boro’s play-off dreams were dashed at Coventry’s CBS Arena yesterday, Howson was visibly emotional when he was substituted for Rav van den Berg in the 78th minute.
He appeared to be saying goodbye to the home fans when he walked around the Riverside pitch with his family in the wake of the final home game against Norwich just over a week ago, but Carrick insists it would be wrong to conclude that he is set to end his time as a Boro player.
When asked whether Howson had played his final game for the club, the Boro boss said: “I wouldn’t say that. There are still conversations to be had on that. It’s not defining by any stretch.
“I think there were a few tears to be honest, a few of the boys were hurting. They were disappointed for different reasons, and it shows how much they care.
“In terms of the Johnny one, let’s see. I said before it was about getting through to the end of the season. I spoke to Johnny about it and we were fine. We know where we’re at with each other.”
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Dijksteel is also due to become a free agent next month, so the Boro hierarchy will also have to decide whether or not to hand a new deal to the 28-year-old defender, who played at right-back yesterday.
Dijksteel started Boro’s final 13 games of the season, having been a much more peripheral figure in the first two-thirds of the campaign.
“Those decisions (on Dijksteel and Howson) will be made pretty soon,” said Carrick. “Conversations have taken place in different ways and there’ll be a final decision soon.”
It is set to be a busy summer on Teesside, with a number of loan players now due to end their time with Boro.
Ben Doak has already returned to Liverpool after suffering a thigh injury, while Mark Travers, Ryan Giles, Samuel Iling-Junior and Kelechi Iheanacho are all loanees whose temporary deals are now set to end. Boro do not have clauses in place to sign any of their loanees on a permanent basis.
“The summer becomes about recruitment and improving the team and the squad,” said Carrick, who has spelled out his desire to remain as head coach despite his side finishing the season in a bitterly-disappointing tenth position.
“I don’t think this summer is any bigger than any other one in that respect. I think there’s really good foundations in the group, and I think the core of the squad is really strong.
“It’s something we need to try to build on. We need to try to be stronger when we come out for the start of the season.
“We need to continue to evolving. That’s a constant challenge. But I think the stability we’ve built over two-and-a-half years or so is there. We’ve just got to keep adding to it.”