AP supply: Saints' Brees has torn ligament in thumb

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been recognized with a torn ligament close to the thumb of his throwing hand that’s anticipated to sideline him a minimum of six weeks, stated an individual accustomed to the state of affairs.

Brees has elected to have surgical procedure, however it isn’t but clear when the operation will happen or who will carry out it, the particular person stated. The particular person spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity Monday as a result of the prognosis has not been introduced.

Brees left Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams within the first quarter after the thumb on his proper hand hit the hand of on-rushing Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald on the observe trough of a throw.

The Saints misplaced the sport 27-9, with backup Teddy Bridgewater going 17 for 30 passing for 165 yards over the past three-plus quarters.

Saints coach Sean Payton declined on Monday to enter element about Brees’ situation and even rule him out for this Sunday’s recreation in Seattle.

“They’re nonetheless within the midst of evaluating it,” stated Payton, including that Brees had obtained one prognosis and was within the means of getting a second opinion.

Payton additionally declined to handle what his offense would seem like with out Brees below heart going ahead.

“I am sorry, I am simply not going to reply hypothetical questions proper now,” Payton stated. “I am not going to do it.”

When requested how effectively the Saints had constructed a group that might soak up taking part in with out Brees, Payton stated, “We’re on the brink of discover out,” earlier than backtracking a bit.

“Hopefully the information is sweet and the size of time, if there’s any that he is out, will probably be shorter than longer. However, once more, that is a part of our sport.”

Whereas Brees, as a wholesome participant, has been a held out of a pair late-season video games that held no postseason implications, he has missed just one begin due to an harm in his earlier 13 seasons with New Orleans. The Saints narrowly misplaced that 2015 recreation at Carolina, with Luke McCown at quarterback.

Brees is the NFL’s all-time chief in completions with 6,621 and yards passing with 74,845. His 522 touchdowns tie him for second all-time with New England’s Tom Brady, 17 behind retired former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

The Saints are practising this week within the Seattle space earlier than taking part in the Seahawks on Sunday. New Orleans’ 5 video games after they face Seattle are in opposition to Dallas, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Chicago and Arizona, adopted by a Week 9 bye.

Bridgewater, a second-year Saints who returned to New Orleans this season on a one-year, $7.2 million free-agent deal, is the first backup.

Taysom Hill, who performs a wide range of talent positions on offense and in addition performs on particular groups, is the third string QB. It stays to be seen how his taking part in time at varied positions will probably be affected if he’s elevated to second-string QB whereas Brees is out.

Bridgewater’s final begin was with the Saints within the ultimate common season recreation of 2018, when New Orleans had already locked up the highest seed within the NFC playoffs. Bridgewater accomplished 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards, one TD and one interception in a 33-14 loss to Carolina.

Earlier in his profession, he was 17-11 as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings earlier than a serious knee harm sidelined him for all of 2016 and almost all of 2017.

At 1-1, the Saints are tied for first place within the NFC South. They entered the season with excessive expectations after advancing to the NFC title recreation final season, dropping to the Rams in a recreation marred by officers’ non-call of move interference and helmet-to-helmet contact fouls dedicated by Rams defensive again Nickell Robey-Coleman in opposition to then-Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis.

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