Drew Brees will be inactive against Panthers with shoulder injury

Brees is out for Sunday’s game at the Carolina Panthers, coach Sean Payton said Friday. Brees is dealing with a torn rotator cuff. It clearly affected him, with Brees unable to hit deep throws he’d routinely nail.

Luke McCown is expected to start in Brees’ place for the 0-2 Saints, backed up by rookie Garrett Grayson.

Not exactly a great start to the season.

While Brees was getting hounded, Payton expressed some frustration with his own defensive line’s inability to pressure Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston.

Without Brees for a critical early-season division matchup, it’s unlikely they’ll escape the winless column Sunday.

McCown’s last start resulted in four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 1.8 in a loss to the New York Jets in 2011 while playing for Jacksonville.

Brees has been off to a slow start this season and so have the Saints overall, as the team is 0-2 after being upset by the Buccaneers at home in Week 2. He never left the game, finishing 24 of 38 for 255 yards and one touchdown.

The Saints have been trending down since making the playoffs in 2013, going 7-9 last season. Payton stated Brees will be “day to day” heading to Week 4.

McCown is in his third season with the Saints, though he’s thrown just one pass for the team, back in 2013.

Even though he claims it will be, the decision to play isn’t entirely up to Brees.

If Cooks is hampered at all by the ankle, Brandon Coleman could be a breakout option for Week 3.

I don’t see Sean Payton altering the game plan all that much with McCown starting.