Drew Brees will have a short day. (Getty)
The custom among NFL teams is to use the third preseason game as the game where both starting units play extended minutes. Typically, the starting quarterback will play at least the first half, and some coaches end up playing the quarterback through the third quarter as well.
New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton knows what he has with quarterback Drew Brees and decided to only play Brees in just the first offensive series. While specific details were not released, one has to wonder if the string of injuries to NFL teams key players over this preseason played into Payton’s decision making. The benefit of Brees playing longer was not worth the potential injury risk in an exhibition game.
For those just joining the broadcast, there is nothing wrong with Drew Brees. The coaching staff decided to hold him out for the remainder of the game.
Brees was 4-of-6 for 40 yards in the series he played in. Half of his passes were to second-year receiver Brandin Cooks. In the previous preseason game against the New England Patriots, Brees was 8-of-10 for 159 yards.
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