Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are in a battle to win the New Orleans’ Saints starting quarterback job after Drew Brees retired over the offseason, and Winston certainly helped his chances to be the starter with a sharp performance in preseason action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.
And Winston got a lot of help from wide receiver Marquez Callaway.
Winston completed 9-of-10 passes for 123 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 157.5 passer rating over three series. Callaway caught five of those passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and both of the touchdowns were incredible plays.
The first touchdown — a 43-yarder — was flat-out ridiculous. Winston threw a bomb into double coverage, and Callaway somehow came away with a diving catch while drawing a pass interference penalty.
Ridiculous catch by Saints WR Marquez Callaway for the TD on a Jameis Winston bomb. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/C2VhEbYsgl
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 24, 2021
Replays of the incredible TD catch by Marquez Callaway. pic.twitter.com/CQoAV0pfgn
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 24, 2021
Jameis Winston's first Pass TD to Marquez Callaway traveled 53.3 yards in the air.
That's the most air distance on a Saints Pass TD since 2016 (preseason, regular season or playoffs). @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/Joh9E5pYR9
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 24, 2021
The second touchdown was a dime by Winston — officially a 29-yard pass — and Callaway made another terrific catch.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1429967333284450306
Saints head coach Sean Payton is known to love everything Taysom Hill brings to the table, but Winston’s arm talent is on another level and allows New Orleans to make big plays in the passing game like he showed on Monday night.
As for Callaway, the wide receiver impressed in limited action as a rookie last season (21 receptions and 213 yards in 11 games) and should be a much bigger part of the New Orleans passing attack in 2021. He’s a very possible breakout candidate (and is definitely a player for fantasy football participants to monitor).
[Photo Credit: ESPN]