Saints QB Brees still unsure if he will play Sunday

Quarterback Drew Brees will not play, head coach Sean Payton announced today.

Sources told ESPN NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder earlier this week that Brees’ MRI did not show any tearing in the rotator cuff – a diagnosis that was confirmed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. It clearly affected him, with Brees unable to hit deep throws he’d routinely nail.

With Brees out, the Saints will now turn to veteran backup Luke McCown in the hopes he can lead 0-2 New Orleans to a road upset over 2-0 Carolina.

Not exactly a great start to the season.

“He wouldn’t go all the way to Sunday and then pregame is his first throws”, Payton said. Payton, however, said Brees and the team agreed that the strength and velocity wasn’t where it needed to be. Starting in his place will be Luke McCown. Brees has not missed a game since back in 2009 and that is the only game he has missed since coming over to the Saints.

The Saints have been trending down since making the playoffs in 2013, going 7-9 last season.

When the teams played in December previous year with both still in the hunt for a division title, the Panthers administered a 41-10 beating on the Saints in New Orleans.

Even though he claims it will be, the decision to play isn’t entirely up to Brees. Coleman has seven catches for 74 yards this season and one touchdown and he could get a boost for the Saints along with Marques Colston. “See what you can do more compared to the day before”.