Brees plans early return for Saints
Injured QBs Ryan, Mahomes also hope to play this week
METAIRIE, La. — Drew Brees pulled a football out of his locker inside the New Orleans Saints’ training headquarters and wrapped his right hand around it, splaying his surgically repaired thumb away from his forefinger.
The demonstration of how far he’s progressed in his rehabilitation since his Week 2 injury left no doubt about his intent to tell coach Sean Payton he’s ready to play this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
“That’s the plan,” Brees said. “I’ll tell Sean if I’m ready — and he’ll believe me.”
Brees affirmed that he does indeed feel like himself and that he threw the ball well at practice Wednesday but added that he wants to see how he performs throughout the week.
Brees said that, technically, his thumb won’t be fully healed until he’s three months out of surgery, which was performed on his ulnar collateral ligament in Los Angeles on Sept. 18. But Brees noted that a surgically inserted internal brace provides enough support for him to grip the ball firmly now, five weeks later.
With backup QB Teddy Bridgewater filling in, the Saints (6-1) have won all five games Brees has missed since his injury during New Orleans’ Week 2 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles.
CHIEFS: Coach Andy Reid was unwilling to rule out quarterback Patrick Mahomes from their upcoming game against Green Bay, even though it’s been less than a week since the reigning league MVP dislocated his kneecap in a victory in Denver.
Regardless of whether he plays Sunday night, that’s good news for the Chiefs. The initial thought was that Mahomes could miss up to six weeks.
FALCONS: Atlanta coach Dan Quinn says quarterback Matt Ryan is hopeful he’ll return from a sprained ankle to play against Seattle.
As expected, Ryan did not practice Wednesday. Ryan, 34, was hurt during last week’s 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Veteran Matt Schaub would make his first start since 2015 with Baltimore if Ryan can’t play.
PATRIOTS: New England has placed receiver Josh Gordon on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries.
Gordon suffered the injuries during New England’s win over the Giants in Week 6 and sat out Monday night’s win over the Jets. Gordon’s absence will mean the Patriots will now be leaning on veteran Mohamed Sanu, acquired in a trade with Atlanta on Tuesday.
CHARGERS: Left tackle Russell Okung will make his season debut Sunday at Chicago. Okung has been out all season recovering from a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots.
JETS: Guard Kelechi Osemele says he is having surgery on his injured right shoulder Friday despite the team not yet approving the procedure.
Osemele says he has a torn labrum that has detached from the bone, but a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press both doctors determined it is actually a pre-existing injury and cleared Osemele to play through the injury.