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The New Orleans Saints won their sixth consecutive game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but the team also suffered a potentially significant blow.
Veteran quarterback Drew Brees reportedly suffered multiple fractures in his ribs and a collapsed lung in his chest. It doesn't sound good:
More from @WerderEdESPN: Drew Brees is suffering from three fractured ribs on his left side and two on the right, possibly more. Doctors have cautioned Brees to be especially careful with the damage to his lung. https://t.co/6Ps1pPOfek
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2020
The two fractures on the right side and the collapsed lung reportedly happened on Sunday, while the three fractures on the left side are believed to have occurred against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brees has also been dealing with a shoulder injury.
Exactly what this means from a timeline perspective remains to be seen. However, it all but guarantees Brees will miss time.
The former All-Pro left Sunday's game with said injury, and Saints backup Jameis Winston was inserted as the new quarterback for the second half. Winston and Taysom Hill are likely to see reps under center if Brees is forced to miss extended time.
This is a huge setback for the Saints, especially considering Brees had settled into his best run of games in recent weeks.
The 41-year-old had a quarterback rating of at least 109.8 while also throwing for eight combined touchdowns and zero interceptions between Week 7 and Week 9. Brees had also completed 8-of-13 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown prior to leaving Sunday's game.
Fortunately for Saints fans, the upcoming schedule is fairly friendly. Two of New Orleans' next three games come against the Atlanta Falcons, with a matchup against the 3-6 Denver Broncos sandwiched in the middle.
Still, the Saints will need to take care of business. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are nipping at New Orleans' heels at 7-3, and the Saints could lose their grip on the NFC South if Winston and Hill cannot play productively in the event Brees is sidelined for an elongated period.
