As reported by the New Orleans Advocate, Saints head coach Dennis Allen has stated that starting quarterback Jameis Winston is unlikely to play in Friday night’s preseason game against the Packers.
The former Hueytown High School star missed the remainder of the 2021 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus in his left knee in game seven.
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Who is the Saints Quarterback?
Jameis Winston, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, returned to action for the first time since October 31 in a 27-10 preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday night. The regular season for the Saints begins on September 11 of that year (2022).
What Caused Winston’s Return to Be Delayed?
Winston’s return was hampered by a right foot sprain he suffered on August 9, but the Saints’ starting quarterback started the first series of their final preseason game.
After leading a touchdown drive of 75 yards in seven plays, during which Winston completed four of his five pass attempts, he sat on the home bench and watched the rest of the game.
“I was so grateful for the opportunity just to be back in the Dome and play in front of our fans and get a chance to execute,” Winston said. “… I just kept telling the Lord, ‘Thank you, thank you’ for allowing me this opportunity to be back on the field in front of these fans in the same place where I was carried off. I was just grateful to be back, man, and I was telling all the people that helped me with this process thank you.”
The Saints improved to 5-2 that year thanks in large part to a 36-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during which Winston was injured. Losing its starting quarterback Winston, New Orleans went on to lose five straight games and finish the season with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs by one spot.
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What Did Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen Say?
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said after Friday night’s game that he “wanted to get Jameis out there in some game action. It’s been a while since he’s been in that environment. …
“I thought he was confident in the pocket. I thought he was decisive with his reads. There was a couple of plays where he really stepped up in there and rifled the ball in, so I was impressed with what he was able to do. It was good to see.”
On September 11 at 12:00 CDT, New Orleans will play its first regular season game against its NFC South division opponent, the Atlanta Falcons.
“These next two weeks are going to be critical,” Winston said. “Now every game counts, so we got to keep getting better and keep jelling.”
Winston was the first overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2013 while playing for Florida State’s BCS national championship squad. The Buccaneers started him at quarterback for five seasons, and he made the Pro Bowl in his first.
Winston led the NFL in passing yards with 5,109 and touchdown passes with 33. Winston tossed 30 interceptions, and the Bucs cut him loose in free agency to acquire Tom Brady. He wound up as a backup for the Saints, where he studied under Sean Payton and Drew Brees.
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Winston Beat Out Taysom Hill
Following Brees’ retirement at the end of the 2020 season, Winston beat out Taysom Hill for the starting quarterback position. Winston had a 102.8 passing efficiency rating in 2021 after completing 95 of 161 throws for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
After failing in their attempt to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in March, the Saints re-signed Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract.
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