Drew Brees is not out for the season
The New Orleans Saints are sitting on an 0-2 record and have looked dead on arrival. On Monday, their poor fans got put through even more nonsense when it was reported on Twitter that quarterback Drew Brees was going under the knife for a torn rotator cuff, putting him out for the season. The report was false, but immediately gained legs after Brees looked terrible in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Drew Brees has a torn rotator cuff and will require surgery. Likely done for the year. #Saints
— Chaps (@UncleChaps) September 21, 2015
These reports became a firestorm quickly. However, ESPN reporter Mike Triplett, who covers New Orleans, was in Sean Payton’s press conference on Monday, who spoke about Brees; shoulder.
"“Well, I think it’s early right now,” Payton said Monday when asked if the team might consider sitting Brees down and letting him heal. “Today’s the day after, and we’ll take a peek and see how he’s feeling, coming along and see where we’re at Wednesday. Certainly we’ll do the best thing for him and for where he’s at. But I think it’s early to say that.”"
UPDATE: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has reported that Brees is expected to miss several weeks with an injury, although details are not available yet.
The Saints are in a major crisis. If Brees has to be shut down for any amount of time, the season is all but over. Nobody expects New Orleans to rally based on the strength of its running game or defense. Without Brees, this is a 4 or 5-win team.
At this point, there is not another expected update on Brees until Wednesday, when he is scheduled to speak with the media. The Saints are currently all alone in the NFC South basement, two games behind both the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.