New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was placed on injured reserve on Friday, after suffering a collapsed lung and rib fractures that forced him to leave Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. Brees was originally believed to have five rib fractures, but it turns out he has more than double that.
ESPN’s Ed Werder spoke with Brees on Saturday night, and reports that doctors discovered six more rib fractures, giving Brees 11 total (eight on his left side, three on his right).
Werder adds that, according to Brees, “doctors have been encouraged by his progress – specifically improvement in lung function and the continued dissipation of the pneumothorax suffered last week.”
Additionally, Brees is hopeful that he’ll be able to play as soon as he’s eligible in Week 14 and “do so without further risk of re-injury.”
In a conversation tonight with Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback said that doctors have been encouraged by his progress — specifically improvement in lung function and the continued dissipation of the pneumothorax suffered last week. They’ve also discovered 6 more rib fractures.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 22, 2020
Brees had X-rays, CAT scans and has been seen by doctors every other day this week. They have now confirmed eight rib fractures on his left side and three on the right. That’s more than double the total from testing performed on Monday that revealed five rib fractures.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 22, 2020
The Saints placed Brees on injured-reserve Friday and he will miss at least the next three games. Brees is hopeful that he will be physically ready to play as soon as he’s eligible in Week 14 and do so without further risk of re-injury.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 22, 2020
So, the news isn’t all bad, but still- that’s a lot of rib fractures. It would seem hard to believe that the 41-year-old would be fully recovered from these injuries within a few weeks, but he’s clearly optimistic.
For now, Sean Payton and the Saints will apparently go with Taysom Hill as their starting quarterback, and not Jameis Winston (who reportedly won’t even be part of any offensive packages)- in a move that has been heavily questioned.
