Drew Brees reportedly out for Sunday at Seahawks, and longer. Saints QB needs surgery
No one’s saying the Seahawks’ task against the Saints is now going to be a breeze.
They are saying there will be no Brees.
Multiple reports Monday morning, the first by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, stated New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees needs surgery on the thumb he injured in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and that the 12-time Pro Bowl quarterback and two-time NFL offensive player of the year will miss six weeks.
The first of those six weeks is Sunday when the Seahawks (2-0) host the Saints (1-1) at CenturyLink Field.
Brees, 40, is 3-2 against Seattle in the regular season over his long career, with 11 touchdown passes and three interceptions in those five games.
This week will be the first time he’s missed a game because of injury since week 3 of the 2015 season.
His primary backup in New Orleans is Teddy Bridgewater. The 26-year-old former starter in Minnesota has made one start since 2015, his final season leading the Vikings. That was Dec. 30 for the Saints, when Brees took the regular-season finale off at Carolina because New Orleans had already clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Bridgewater lost his only career start so far against the Seahawks, 38-7 in Minnesota in Week 12 of the 2015 season. He was 17 of 28 passing for 118 yards and an interception. Seattle sacked him four times in that rout.
The Saints also have versatile threat Taysom Hill, the 29-year-old former quarterback at BYU. He’s thrown seven passes in his three seasons in the NFL with New Orleans. But the Saints have used him more as a runner and receiver, including Sunday against the Rams. The Saints have thrown to him 12 times, he’s rushed 39 times in 15 career games.
Brees reportedly sustained ligament damage in his right thumb on New Orleans’ second possession Sunday during the 27-9 loss. Brees appeared to slam his throwing hand into Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s hand during his follow-through of a pass in the first quarter.
Bridgewater played the final 48:29 of the game. He completed 17 of 30 throws for 165 yards. His passer rating was 72.2.
The Saints are spending this week of practices on the West Coast between games at the Rams and Seahawks.
This story was originally published September 16, 2019 at 8:23 AM.
