It’s bad enough that the New Orleans Saints won’t have starting quarterback Drew Brees under center when they play the Seattle Seahawks. But they won’t have his presence on the sideline, either, after doctors advised Brees to remain in L.A. after undergoing surgery on his throwing hand earlier this week.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that Brees was warned against taking a plane from Los Angeles (where his procedure was conducted) up to Seattle due to potential “swelling and inflammation” in his surgically-repaired hand. Taking flight on an airplane (and the changes in elevation and pressure that follow) would risk re-aggravating his injury.
Still, Brees has made peace with his status, telling Mortensen that, “It crushed me not to be there,” with his teammates. This really drives the point home that Sunday is an opportunity for Brees’ backup and possible heir, Teddy Bridgewater, to take charge and lead them to a much-needed win.
Brees tore a ligament in his thumb after colliding with Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald last week, and sought expert opinions in L.A. and Houston before returning to Los Angeles for his surgery. For now, he’s grounded, but expect him to join the team as soon as he’s able.
