Saints’ QB Drew Brees is improving from his 11 fractured ribs and he is eligible to come off injured reserve and return for next Sunday’s game at Philadelphia:https://t.co/S92NKEaiT0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 6, 2020
Here’s some expected news from ESPN’s Adam Schefter: he reports that Drew Brees is progressing well in his recovery from a series of fractured ribs (11 in total, along with a collapsed lung) that landed the New Orleans Saints quarterback on injured reserve back on Nov. 20, with a possible return lined up for next week’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
This isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s still good to hear. The NFL’s changes to injured reserve rules this year allow players to return from injured reserve after just three weeks, meaning Week 14 was the earliest Brees could be activated the whole time.
That doesn’t mean he will make his return for Dec. 13’s road trip to Philly, though. That isn’t guaranteed just because Brees is following the anticipated recovery timeline so far. He still has to practice fully with the team and receive clearance from the Saints medical staff, which hasn’t happened yet.
And as Schefter noted in his report, the Saints won’t be feeling any pressure to hurry Brees back into action if his backup continues to rack up victories. Taysom Hill has been up-and-down as a passer through his first two career starts, but his efficiency in running a ball-control offense has paired with a dominant Saints defense to create a winning formula.
Maybe another win over the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday can buy enough time for Brees to heal up and sit out this upcoming Eagles game, instead making his return for a possible Super Bowl preview with the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 20.
