Brees nearly ready to return to Saints
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 in team drills to ensure his accuracy, timing and overall effectiveness meets his standards.
“I need some competition,” Brees said.
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.
“Today it was good to have him out there throwing,” Payton said. “He’s done a great job with his rehab. He’s been medically cleared to play.”
With backup 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 at the Coliseum.
Mahomes might play Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid was unwilling to rule out quarterback Patrick Mahomes from the upcoming game against Green Bay, even though it has been less than a week since the reigning league MVP dislocated his kneecap 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, but X-rays and an MRI exam returned the best possible result. So while the Chiefs are moving ahead as if Matt Moore will be under center against the Packers, the starting job may not be his as long as expected.
“I mean, he attacks everything. That’s how he goes about it,” Reid said of Mahomes. “I think it was important that he hear from the doctors and the trainers that he could proceed and things would be OK as he goes forward, so he’s full-steam ahead.”
Etc.
The New England Patriots 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. He did not participate when the Patriots returned to the practice field Wednesday. ... The NFL will not fine Miami Dolphins safety Bobby McCain for allegedly spitting at a Bills fan after Sunday’s game at Buffalo. Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Monday that the team plans internal discipline . ... New York Jets guard Kelechi Osemele said he is having surgery on his injured right shoulder Friday despite the team not yet approving the procedure. Osemele said he received a third medical opinion this week, and it was recommended he have the surgery on what he says is a torn labrum that has detached from the bone.