Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton has been starting at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints while Jameis Winston has been dealing with a back injury.
Head coach Dennis Allen has previously been non-committal about who would be the team’s starter once Winston is healthy, but he made a shocking decision on Wednesday regarding the future of the starting quarterback position in New Orleans.
Allen announced during a team press conference that Dalton will start yet again this weekend in their matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Dennis Allen said Andy Dalton will start this week vs the Raiders
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 26, 2022
He also revealed that this decision is an “offensive decision” and that Winston is healthy enough to play, but he ultimately chose Dalton due to his performance.
DA says the decision to go with Andy Dalton is a an “offensive decision.” Says they’re going to continue what they’re doing with Dalton.
DA says that Jameis Winston is healthy. This is about performance
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 26, 2022
This is certainly a surprising decision considering Dalton threw three interceptions in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Many Saints fans took to social media to express their frustrations with the decision by Allen.
Yikes all around https://t.co/SO4bvsUHV3
— Jordan Blum (@JDBlum23) October 26, 2022
"What convinced me was the fact Jameis failed to produce even one successful offensive drive while injured." https://t.co/Ye5JPbyc8M
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) October 26, 2022
Why?? https://t.co/OiJiZfEm1g
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) October 26, 2022
So, the #Saints are Andy Dalton's team now …
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) October 26, 2022
So Andy Dalton over Jameis Winston, health aside. Interesting. For this move to remotely work, Dalton has to avoid games like last week. I think he can, but we'll see.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 26, 2022
This certainly sounds like it is a long-term decision by Allen, which is surprising considering the team just signed Winston to a two-year contract extension to be the starter this past offseason.
The Saints are currently 2-5 on the season and need to turn things around in a hurry if they want to keep pace in the NFC South.
Andy Dalton will seemingly be the quarterback at the forefront of that effort, and he will need to avoid games like he had last week to do so.
[New Orleans Saints, Nick Underhill]
