Saints Plan To Start Drew Brees In Week 4

Saints HC Sean Payton told reporters on Friday that they plan to start QB Drew Brees against the Cowboys on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, Brees told WWL Radio that he was “€œvery optimistic”€ about suiting up for this weekend’s game.

€”I am extremely optimistic so I felt like it was going to be a magic healing as we went along (leading up to Panthers game),”€ said Brees, via NewOrleansSaints.com. “Some of this is uncharted territory for me. It’€™s a matter of functionality. It’€™s not a pain issue. If it were a pain issue, I would play. It’s a mobility, strength and functionally issue…‘can I make the throws to put us in the best position to win?”

Brees has been able to throw in recent days, which has apparently convinced the coaching staff that he’s healthy enough to play this weekend.

In place of Brees, Luke McCown completed 31-of-38 passes for 310 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception against the Panthers.

Brees, 36, has two years remaining on his five-year, $100 million contract that included $40 million guaranteed. He stands to make base salaries of $18.75 million and $19.75 million over the next two years.

This season, Brees has thrown for 610 yards while completing 62.8 percent of his passes to go along with two touchdowns and two interceptions.