Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, who has been coping with severe ankle and again accidents this 12 months, is hoping to return to the sector for New Orleans’ Week 8 matchup in opposition to the Raiders subsequent Sunday, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (through Twitter). Winston has been energetic and in uniform for each of the group’s previous two video games, however Andy Dalton has been working because the beginning QB since Week 4.
Final Sunday, we heard that Dalton might stay the Saints’ QB1 no matter Winston’s harm standing. Since then, nevertheless, the membership has dropped two straight video games, and Dalton has not performed nicely in both of them. In a Week 6 loss to the Bengals, Dalton accomplished 17 of 32 passes for 162 yards and a rating — good for a QB ranking of 77.9 — and in a Week 7 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, the Pink Rifle threw three interceptions, two of which had been returned for touchdowns.
In equity, high receiver Michael Thomas has not performed in any sport that Dalton has began, and within the Cincinnati contest, Dalton was with out Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry. Nonetheless, a passer that was praised for being a “calming affect” on the offense was something however within the Arizona sport, and whereas head coach Dennis Allen has not made a definitive announcement, it’s truthful to count on Winston to be reinserted into the beginning lineup in Week 8 if he’s wholesome sufficient.
In any case, Winston guided the Saints to a 5-2 report by way of seven video games in 2021 earlier than an ACL tear ended his season prematurely, and he was re-signed this offseason to a two-year, $28M contract to reprise his function because the membership’s QB1. And, regardless of Winston’s well being issues — which embody a number of backbone fractures — and his struggles in a Week 3 defeat by the hands of the Panthers, Allen stated he was not contemplating a everlasting swap underneath heart,
Had Dalton carried out higher up to now two contests, Allen might have a more durable choice on his arms. However Dalton’s play has underscored the truth that a wholesome Winston is the best choice for a group that, regardless of its 2-5 report, has a authentic probability to win its division.
