Saints will not rush back Drew Brees, despite next Sunday’s showdown vs. the Chiefs, per sources. https://t.co/mwAjBveXlk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2020
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared his latest Sunday morning splash report hours before the New Orleans Saints’ kickoff with the Philadelphia Eagles, bringing some troubling insight to Drew Brees’ injury recovery. His latest information suggests Brees won’t be available for a climactic matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
While Schefter says the team will not rush Brees back into action after he suffered 11 broken ribs and a punctured lung in November, which many expected (based off Saints coach Sean Payton’s comments) he adds that Brees isn’t anticipated to return for Week 15.
Schefter characterized Brees’ status as “questionable at best to play,” with the quarterback still on injured reserve and not yet throwing at practice. Brees, who turns 42 next month on Jan. 15, will have missed at least four games while recovering from the damage to his ribs and lung. If Schefter’s reporting holds true and Brees remains sidelined for this next game, five weeks will have gone by.
It sets Brees up for a possible two-week warmup in games with the Minnesota Vikings (on Dec. 25) and the Carolina Panthers (on Jan. 3) to close out the regular season, giving him ample time to knock off the rust and gear up for the playoffs.
The Saints are narrowing in on their fourth consecutive NFC South title, which could be clinched if Brees’ backup Taysom Hill defeats the Eagles in Week 14. That would at least guarantee them a home game in the postseason, though more wins are required to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and a crucial first-week bye.
