New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will not play this weekend against the Carolina Panthers, according to neworleanssaints.com.
Brees said that his shoulder was affected after taking a big hit against the Tampa Buccaneers last Sunday. This will be Brees' first missed game due to injury in a 15-year career.
The Saints are winless this season, and Brees has struggled as he has already thrown two interceptions and fumbled twice. Backup quarterback Luke McCown will need to step up, as he will fill in for the injured Brees.
McCown is a veteran in the league and is playing in his 12th season. McCown has thrown nine touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his career, and he will need to be careful with turnovers as the Panthers defense will look to take it away.
The Panthers are undefeated after two games, and their defense has given up just 26 points this season. Look for the Saints to rely heavily on their ground game this weekend, as they are likely unsure of what McCown can produce in the air. Running back Mark Ingram rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries last week. Look for the Saints to get him the ball often, as clock management could have a major impact in this game.
Brees and head coach Sean Payton have been the cornerstones of this franchise for almost a decade now. The 36-year-old quarterback's time may be coming to the end in New Orleans, but Saints fans likely won't like what they see without him. For now, Brees is the future of the Saints, but they might need to look to the distant future, as Brees won't be around forever.
