The New Orleans Saints will be without quarterback Drew Brees for about six weeks after he suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Brees will have surgery on the thumb but still is deciding exactly what type of procedure to have and what doctor will do it.
This is obviously a huge blow to the Saints because Brees, 40, is a former Most Valuable Player and has led the team to a Super Bowl championship. Brees has been a model of durability since joining the Saints in 2006. He has missed only three games. Only one of those was due to an injury. The other two came in regular-season finales as Brees rested because the Saints already had clinched everything they could for the postseason.
Teddy Bridgewater will take over as the starter in Brees’ absence. Bridgewater didn’t look great in relief of Brees against the Rams. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 165 yards. But the Saints think highly of Bridgewater.
Although Bridgewater attempted only 23 passes for the Saints last year, they signed him to a contract that pays $7.5 million this year, the most for any backup quarterback. But, for now, Bridgewater no longer is a backup. He’s the starter.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
