METAIRIE, La. – Drew Brees is scheduled to return to training, but New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said the quarterback still “has some way to go” in his recovery from 11 broken ribs and a lung injury.
“We haven’t made a decision just because we don’t have to,” Payton told reporters after Wednesday practice when asked if there was any chance Brees could play on Sunday. “He still has a lot to do and he’s someone we won’t just rush back and just bring him into the game.
“I think the injury is so significant that you need to make sure he can work and feel safe.”
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This is in line with what league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday: The Saints would not rush to bring Brees back in week 15 unless he recovered fully, could throw without restrictions, and had full freedom of movement.
However, Brees suggested that he would get closer to returning in his weekly interview with Cox Sports Television on Sunday night.
“I’m getting better every week,” Brees told CST. “I obviously have a plan for the benchmarks that I need to hit to get to where I know I can play and play effectively for this team. And all I can say is that I’m close .
“There’s an element of recovery. There’s an element of strength. And I’ll know when that time comes.”
Wednesday’s official ruling to return from the injured reserve is a positive sign of Brees’ recovery. This means he can go back to practice with the team, and a three week clock begins for the Saints to put him back on the active 53-man roster.
Brees has missed four games due to the injury, with Backup Taysom Hill winning 3-1 as a starter in his place. Hill’s first defeat came last Sunday in Philadelphia – and put the Saints (10-3) behind the Green Bay Packers (10-3) in the race for NFC number 1 due to a head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Saints will have two games over six days in the next week. They are said to be home to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.
ESPN’s Adam Teicher contributed to this report.
