New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is known for his bright sense of optimism, and that extends to his status in Week 8’s game with the Arizona Cardinals. When asked if he hopes to suit up on Sunday –just five weeks removed from having a torn ligament in his throwing hand surgically repaired — Brees grinned and answered: “That’s the plan. We’ll see.”
During a media availability session after practice on Wednesday, Brees explained that he’s been throwing an NFL regulation-sized football for about two weeks, having moved up from practicing with Nerf balls and throwing toys with his children. Still, he has a few more hurdles between now and Sunday’s noon kickoff, including further testing in practice. He admitted that he isn’t back to enjoying perfect health but said he is making progress and he’ll reach a final decision closer to game day.
As usual, Saints coach Sean Payton was not as forthcoming in discussing Brees’ status. He acknowledged that there’s an opportunity for Brees to play in the final game before New Orleans’ Week 9 bye, but it’s possible Brees ends up being a game-time decision after going through a week of practices and a final, critical pregame warmup session. However, if the Saints have shown us anything this year, it’s that they’ll be well-prepared to play with whoever’s under center — whether it’s Brees or one last appearance for backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
