Saints place Brees on IR; Hill to make first QB start
New Orleans will start Taysom Hill at quarterback ahead of Jameis Winston on Sunday against Atlanta.
The Saints placed starter Drew Brees on injured reserve Friday — meaning he must miss at least three games while recovering from cracked ribs and a punctured lung.
Winston replaced an injured Brees in the second half of New Orleans’ Week 10 win. No timetable has been set for Brees’ return; he has missed six games in his 20-year career because of injury.
Hill, 30, a dual-threat quarterback at Brigham Young from 2012 to 2016, has played five positions on offense for the Saints while also serving as an ace on special teams. He signed a two-year, $21 million extension as a restricted free agent this past offseason.
Hill has completed 11 of 20 NFL passes for 255 yards with no TDS and one interception. He’s run for 596 yards at an average of 5.7 per carry and four TDS.
Winston will not be part of any offensive packages Sunday unless needed because of injury, ESPN reported.
49ers: Defensive end Takk Mckinley, claimed off waivers this week from Cincinnati, was cut after failing a physical. Also, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, left offensive tackle Trent Williams and tight end Daniel Helm were placed on the reserve/ COVID-19 list.
■ Packers: Wide receiver Davante Adams (ankle) returned to practice and “should be good to go” for Sunday, coach Matt Lafleur said. Cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (concussion, hand) and Kevin King (quadriceps) also will play after missing multiple games.
■ Browns: Defensive end Myles Garrett was ruled out for Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. The NFL sacks leader this season with 9½ stayed home from practice Wednesday and Thursday because he showed virus symptoms.
■ Cardinals: Quarterback Kyler Murray filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to trademark “Hail Murray,” the phrase popularized after Murray’s 43-yard TD pass to beat Buffalo in Week 10.
■ Giants: Wide receiver Dante Pettis, offensive tackle Matt Peart and tight end Kaden Smith were placed on the reserve/covid-19 list after testing positive for the virus.
■ Titans: Left guard Rodger Saffold (ankle), linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee) and wide receiver Adam Humphries (concussion) were ruled out for Sunday.
■ Lions: Running back D’andre Swift (concussion) and wide receivers Kenny Golladay (hip) and Danny Amendola (hip) were ruled out for Sunday.
■ Bengals: Running back Joe Mixon (foot) was ruled out for a fourth straight game, and wide receiver Tee Higgins (illness) returned to practice.
Panthers: The status of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (questionable, knee) will be a game-time decision Sunday, coach Matt Rhule said.
Seahawks: Tight end Greg
Olsen sustained a torn plantar fascia in his left foot and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.
Chiefs: Running back Clyde Edwards-helaire (illness), who missed practice Thursday, was removed from the injury report.