NFL Notes: Drew Brees, Saquon Barkley, Vaccination Rates

Drew Brees

Former Saints QB Drew Brees says he isn’t thinking about coming out of retirement, mainly because he is feeling the lack of training in his arm.

“I better get my butt going if that’s the case. There is a saying that if you don’t use it, you lose it. That’s the truth, my arm is killing me because I haven’t been training to throw. I actually feel worse now than at any other point in my career. I may have one throw, one series, one drive,” Brees told NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico.

Saquon Barkley

Giants RB Saquon Barkley suffered a pretty gnarly knee injury that ended his 2021 season. Medical technology has advanced to the point where that type of injury isn’t the career-killer it could have been in the past, but the Giants have made it a point to make sure their depth at running back is well-stocked this offseason. Barkley has also yet to commit to being back by a particular point in the calendar, whether it’s the start of camp next week or Week 1 in September. 

“I’ve been asked a lot. I guess that’s what the theme of this summer is gonna be, when I’ll be back. But no, I don’t have an answer, to be honest,” Barkley said via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “I’m not trying to lead it up to it, stuff like that or blow something up. I don’t have an answer. It’s a fun process, but it’s a tough process at the same time. So I’m excited to continue to listen to my body, listen to the trainers, listen to the coaches, and just take it day by day.”

• Barkley did say his surgically repaired knee “feels pretty good.” (Ralph Vacchiano)

Vaccination Rates

• Pro Football Talk reports the NFL and the NFLPA are working to find a way to identify which players are vaccinated during practices and games, as some players have declined to reveal that information.
• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, 13 teams have now crossed the 85 percent vaccination threshold. Nearly 75 percent of the players have at least one shot, while two teams remain below 50 percent in vaccination rate. 
• Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press previously reported the Cardinals, Chargers, Colts and Washington Football Team were below 50 percent, but the Cardinals and Chargers have improved their numbers in recent days. 
• The Cowboys are nearing the 70 percent mark for vaccination rate but a source says it will be tougher to clear the hurdle of 85 percent. (Calvin Watkins)