Drew Brees Could Return As Soon As Week 8

As Saints QB Drew Brees continues to make steady progress from the thumb injury he suffered a few weeks ago, there is now a “realistic chance” he could return for the team’s Week 8 matchup with the Cardinals, according to Jason La Canfora. 

Brees is still working to regain full strength and has been in close contact with a hand specialist. The good news is that Brees has impressed the Saints with the strides he has made up to this point and it’s not possible he could be back in another two weeks. 

La Canfora says that if Brees is able to practice in full that week and show he’s able to play at the same level, a return for the Cardinals game is “quite possible.” Otherwise, the Saints could hold him out until after their Week 9 bye to buy him some additional time. 

New Orleans doesn’t need to rush Brees back into the starting lineup with Teddy Bridgewater doing a great job of filling for him. The Saints will want to ensure that the area around Brees’ thumb is at no risk of further injury and that he has a strong grip on the ball. 

Brees hurt his thumb in New Orleans’ Week 2 game against the Rams and was expected to be out for a minimum of six weeks. The veteran’s recovery has reportedly gone exceptionally well, while Bridgewater has piloted the team to a 3-0 record in the meantime.

Brees, 40, is a former second-round pick of the Chargers back in 2001. After five years with the Chargers, Brees signed on with the Saints as a free agent in 2006.

Brees has spent the past 12 seasons in New Orleans and is entering the final year of his two-year, $50 million contract that includes $27 million guaranteed.

Before he was injured, Brees had appeared in one game and completed 74.4 percent of his passes for 370 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

We’ll have more regarding Brees as the news is available.