New Orleans Saints

Sean Payton kept the receipts.

After the New Orleans Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24-9 in Sunday's NFC South showdown, Payton retweeted former Falcons wide receiver Roddy White's prediction that New Orleans didn't have a chance with Taysom Hill under center:

There was plenty of discussion about who would start at quarterback with Drew Brees sidelined, and Payton went with Hill, who had not started an NFL game as a QB, instead of Jameis Winston.

It paid off, as Hill threw for 233 yards without an interception and added 51 yards and two scores on the ground. The Saints, after leading only 10-9 at halftime, gradually pulled away in the second half—thanks largely to a strong defensive effort—and improved to 8-2 with a seventh straight win.

The two teams play again in 14 days, and there's a pretty good chance White, who last played in the NFL five years ago, won't make the same mistake twice.

If he does, Payton will be waiting with the retweet button.

Taysom Hill is getting the surprise start for the New Orleans Saints Sunday in place of an injured Drew Brees, mostly so the team can evaluate the versatile player as a quarterback option going forward, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

It will be the first chance for head coach Sean Payton to see Hill as a full-time quarterback.

"Sean just wants to know," a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

It's far from a slam-dunk choice as "multiple players and people within the organization" believe Jameis Winston should be the starter for the Week 11 game against the Atlanta Falcons, per Schefter. 

Brees is out after suffering 11 fractures in his ribs, per ESPN's Ed Werder. The veteran will miss at least three games after being placed on injured reserve.

The Saints also know this could be a long-term hole to fill with the 41-year-old potentially retiring at the end of the season.

It means the team will get a chance to evaluate Hill, the former undrafted free agent who has mostly been used as a gadget player during his four seasons with the organization. The 30-year-old has never thrown more than two passes in a regular-season or postseason game, instead lining up at tight end or receiver, sometimes playing quarterback in wildcat formations.

New Orleans signed Hill to a two-year, $21 million extension in the offseason but also added Winston on a one-year, $1.1 million deal after the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback failed to find a starting job elsewhere.

Winston has been inconsistent, but he has much more experience under center (70 career starts) and led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards last season.

After Brees left last Sunday's game with a rib injury, it was Winston who came in to close out the 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The Saints are still turning to Hill, experimenting at a key position despite holding a narrow lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the race for an NFC South title.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees told ESPN's Ed Werder that doctors discovered he has 11 total rib fractures, up from the five revealed in testing done last Monday.

Werder provided a larger health update on Brees, who is on injured reserve and will miss the next three games at a minimum.

"In a conversation tonight with Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback said that doctors have been encouraged by his progress—specifically improvement in lung function and the continued dissipation of the pneumothorax suffered last week. They've also discovered six more rib fractures.

"Brees had X-rays, CAT scans and has been seen by doctors every other day this week. They have now confirmed eight rib fractures on his left side and three on the right. That's more than double the total from testing performed on Monday that revealed five rib fractures.

"The Saints placed Brees on injured-reserve Friday and he will miss at least the next three games. Brees is hopeful that he will be physically ready to play as soon as he's eligible in Week 14 and do so without further risk of re-injury."

Werder previously reported that Brees suffered a pair of rib fractures Nov. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before sustaining three more against the San Francisco 49ers one week later. He also suffered a collapsed lung.

Brees left the 49ers game early because of injury, and Jameis Winston stepped in to take the majority of snaps. Taysom Hill also filled in at quarterback.

The 41-year-old signal-caller will miss the Saints' home game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, a road game at the Denver Broncos on Nov. 29 and a road game at Atlanta on Dec. 6. The earliest he can return would be on Dec. 13 at the Philadelphia Eagles.

New Orleans has not named a starter for Sunday, but ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that Winston "will not be part of any offensive packages" against Atlanta, in essence giving the starting job to Hill.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be on the sidelines for at least three games after suffering rib and lung injuries.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Saints placed Brees on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least three games.

Brees has had significant injuries in each of the past two seasons. He missed five games in 2019 with a torn ligament in his right thumb but still threw for 2,979 yards with 27 touchdowns and an NFL-high 74.3 completion percentage. 

In the second quarter of New Orleans' 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10, he landed awkwardly after being hit by Kentavius Street. He finished the quarter but was replaced by Jameis Winston in the second half. 

Per Rapoport, Brees was expected to miss at least two weeks after being diagnosed with cracked ribs and a punctured lung.

The 41-year-old remains effective when healthy. He leads the league with a 73.5 completion percentage and has thrown for 2,196 yards with 18 touchdowns through nine games. 

As for his replacement, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Taysom Hill will start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, with Jameis Winston as the backup.

In a surprising move, Taysom Hill will reportedly make his first career NFL start at quarterback Sunday for the New Orleans Saints at home against the Atlanta Falcons over Jameis Winston.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hill took all the starter reps at practice this week, meaning he should be under center.

Veteran starter Drew Brees is out this week after suffering multiple fractured ribs over the past two weeks and a collapsed lung last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Brees could miss multiple games, meaning Hill may be in line for more than one start.

It was widely expected that Winston, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter, would get the start Sunday since he replaced Brees in last week's win over the Niners.

Winston was solid and kept the offense moving in the right direction by completing six of his 10 passes for 63 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick led the NFL last season with 5,109 passing yards and also threw 33 touchdown passes, but he was intercepted a league-high 30 times. That led to the Bucs' decision to part ways with him and sign future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.

The 26-year-old has a massive experience edge over Hill with 70 career NFL starts, but Hill's dual-threat ability could be much tougher for the Falcons to account for.

Hill was a starting quarterback at BYU in college, but since joining the Saints in 2017, he was been a jack of all trades lining up at every offensive skill position.

Last season was Hill's most productive campaign, as he rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown while also catching 19 passes for 234 yards and six scores. In nine games this season, Hill has 186 yards and one touchdown on the ground, six receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown, and 86 passing yards.

While Hill has lined up at quarterback many times during his NFL career, he usually runs out of those sets. In fact, he has only attempted 18 passes during the regular season, completing 10 for 205 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Since there remains some uncertainty about Hill's ability to be a great passer at the NFL level, one can only assume that New Orleans' offense will be run-heavy with plenty of short, safe passes against Atlanta.

New Orleans has arguably the best dual-threat running back in the league in Alvin Kamara. He has already racked up 1,134 total yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games this season, and he has been a top-flight pass-catcher with 67 grabs for 648 yards and four scores.

If Hill, Kamara and the New Orleans offensive line can effectively execute the read-option and screen games, then head coach Sean Payton should be able to accentuate Hill's strengths and hide any potential weaknesses.

Even though the Saints lead the NFC South at 7-2 and own the tiebreaker over the second-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday's game is a big one since a loss coupled with a Bucs win would put Tampa atop the division by a half-game.

For at least two games, it will be the Jameis Winston show for the New Orleans Saints.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Drew Brees will be out for a minimum of two weeks with a punctured lung and cracked ribs. Winston will head into Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons as the starting quarterback.

The 2015 Pro Bowler is a tantalizing option in fantasy leagues, especially of the daily variety. He has had limited work with the Saints, going 7-of-11 for 75 yards, but he has an established body of work.

Winston threw an NFL-high 30 interceptions in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but working with Bruce Arians also allowed him to set career highs in passing yards (5,109) and touchdowns (33). Now he's working with an equally adept offensive mind in Sean Payton.

The Falcons are allowing the second-most passing yards (310.3) in the NFL. The Denver Broncos—New Orleans' Week 12 opponent—have been stinger but sit 14th in passing defense (231.2 yards). Both represent favorable to very favorable matchups for Winston.

Fantasy managers on the lookout for a quarterback should add the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner.

Rapoport alluded to how Brees' injuries could increase Taysom Hill's involvement in the offense, but Hill's combined work as a passer, runner and receiver probably won't amount to much.

Winston and Hill are almost polar opposites.

Having the former run your fantasy offense rather than the offense of your favorite team means you reap the rewards while the turnovers don't prove as costly. The latter's versatility, on the other hand, translates far better in actual games than in traditional fantasy scoring.

Hill shouldn't be considered a waiver target except in deeper leagues.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is reportedly expected to miss at least two games after suffering multiple injuries over the past two weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The 41-year-old fractured his ribs in back-to-back games and suffered a collapsed lung at the same time. He was injured in the wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. He left the latter game early and did not return for the second half.

According to ESPN's Ed Werder (h/t ESPN's Mike Triplett), a second opinion confirmed that Brees has a collapsed lung and a total of five fractured ribs. Doctors have reportedly not established a timeline for the signal-caller's return.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported shortly after the injuries came to light that Brees would miss at least two or three games.

The 13-time Pro Bowler leads the league with a 73.5 completion percentage, an area where he has paced other quarterbacks for the past three seasons. He exited Week 10 with 2,196 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season for the 7-2 Saints.

With Brees out, the Saints will turn to Jameis Winston, who joined New Orleans this offseason after five years in Tampa Bay. He has appeared in two games this season, completing seven of 11 passes for 75 yards and no touchdowns.

Winston, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, led the NFL last season with 5,109 passing yards and also threw 33 touchdowns passes, but he was also intercepted a league-high 30 times, which prompted Tampa to move on and sign Tom Brady.

Head coach Sean Payton will go with Winston under center in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons, and Rapoport's report suggests that New Orleans will need Winston to start again in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos.

The Saints also have utility player Taysom Hill, who plays essentially every skill position on offense, including quarterback.

Winston will be the primary quarterback until Brees returns, but there is little doubt that Payton will create plenty of opportunities for Hill to make plays from the quarterback position during that time as well.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is aiming for a quick recovery after suffering multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung over the past two weeks.

"Who Dat Nation: I've got the best medical team in the world...will be back in no time!" Brees wrote in an Instagram post Monday night alongside his kids.

ESPN's Ed Werder reported doctors believed Brees suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung on his right side during Sunday's 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers. However, Werder later added that Brees is seeking a second opinion after scans showed "five definite rib fractures":

Brees was replaced in the second half by Jameis Winston, with Taysom Hill also taking some QB snaps.

The 41-year-old also has three fractured ribs on his left side, which doctors think occurred during the previous week's 38-3 blowout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but weren't detected on an X-ray at the time, per Werder.

Saints head coach Sean Payton wasn't prepared to rule out Brees or announce a new starting quarterback ahead of Sunday's clash with the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons (3-6).

"Wednesday is our first day that we're required to [report injuries]. And to be fair to the process, let's stick with that," Payton said Monday. "None of it benefits us by announcing that player earlier than later. I wouldn't project or answer that in any way. We'll see how this week unfolds."

If Brees does miss time, and Werder noted doctors have urged caution to him in terms of the collapsed lung, New Orleans will likely continue to use both Winston and Hill.

Winston would be in line to receive a majority of the snaps, especially in obvious passing situations, while Hill's multifaceted skill set would give them some unique options offensively.

The Saints sit atop the NFC South with a 7-2 record, a half-game ahead of the Bucs. New Orleans won both head-to-head meetings with Tampa, so it'd hold the tiebreaker if the teams end up even at season's end.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported the most optimistic timetable sees Brees missing between two and three weeks, though the main "hope" is he's back in time for the playoffs.

There are seven weeks left in the regular season. The postseason is set to begin Jan. 9.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has fractured ribs on both sides of his body as well as a collapsed lung, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.

Per Werder, Brees suffered three fractured ribs on the right side of his chest last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then suffered two more Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

None of the injuries were known until he underwent X-rays on Monday.

The veteran quarterback did not play in the second half of the team's Week 10 win over the 49ers.

There is currently no definitive timeline for Brees, but Dan Graziano of ESPN reported the most "optimistic" timetable would be two to three weeks. He said there is hope Brees will be back in time for the postseason.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, moving Brees to the injured reserve is not being discussed; that would keep him out for at least three weeks.

Rapoport previously reported the Saints were "bracing for Brees to miss some time to fully heal."

The 41-year-old was in the midst of another strong season with 2,196 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also has a 73.5 completion percentage, which leads the NFL; Brees has topped this category the last three years. 

His play has helped New Orleans produce a 7-2 record, good for first place in the NFC South and tied with the Green Bay Packers for the best mark in the NFC.

If he is forced to miss time, the Saints will have to move forward with Jameis Winston, who signed on a one-year deal in the offseason after an inconsistent 2019 season with the Buccaneers. The 2015 No. 1 overall pick led the league with 5,109 passing yards last year but had 30 interceptions.

He is 7-of-11 for 75 yards in limited action so far with the Saints.

New Orleans went 5-0 last year without Brees as Teddy Bridgewater kept the offense afloat, and the team will now try to do the same with Winston.

New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees suffered a rib contusion in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, and the team is "bracing for Brees to miss some time to fully heal," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

He will undergo an MRI on Monday to examine any cartilage damage.

Brees didn't play the second half of the Week 10 game after taking a big hit early.

"When I came out in the second half and started throwing the ball, it became really apparent that I wasn't gonna be effective," he said afterwards, per Mike Triplett of ESPN. "I can't really describe it other than it was preventing me from doing my job.

Through his first 13 years with the Saints, the veteran quarterback missed a total of three games. He was out for five games in 2019 alone thanks to a thumb injury.

With Brees turning 42 in February and Teddy Bridgewater now with the Carolina Panthers, the Saints needed to have a good contingency plan in place and handed Jameis Winston a one-year, $1.1 million contract.

The 26-year-old made his debut in garbage time in a 38-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. One week later, the rib injury to Brees forced him into action.

In 2019, Winston underlined the good and bad sides of his game when he became the first player ever with 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same year.

The big-play potential is still there for the Saints offense with the Florida State product under center, but the odds of a costly turnover—Brees had 32 interceptions between 2016 and 2019—do rise. However, it's still a better trade-off than most teams have to make when turning to a backup.