Sad news for New Orleans Saints: season-ending injury

Jameis Winston waited a season for his opportunity work as the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback. Now that’s over seven games into the 2021 campaign.

The former Hueytown High School football and baseball star left New Orleans’ 36-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in the second quarter and did not return.

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Tampa Bay did not re-sign Winston after the 2019 season, letting him walk in free agency while signing three-time NFL MVP Tom Brady to play quarterback.

Winston signed to back up Drew Brees in New Orleans in 2020, although when Brees missed four games, the Saints used Taysom Hill as their starting QB. Winston threw 11 passes and had 75 passing yards in 2020 after leading the NFL in those stat categories in 2019 with 626 passes and 5,109 passing yards.

Winston re-signed with New Orleans in the offseason and won the competition with Hill to start in 2021.

Winston finishes the season completing 95-of-161 passes for 1,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

“We definitely were encouraged,” Payton said of Winston’s play. “We felt like we had seen the arm strength, the leadership, all of those things. The thing we talked about all the time — they’re going to evaluate you on your record, and, shoot, he was 4-2. And yeah, it wasn’t always perfect, but he’s someone that had become a vital part to what we were doing.”

Hill would be the player to step in for Winston, but he has missed the past two games with a concussion.

Payton said he was “satisfied with the quarterback room,” which also includes former Denver Broncos starter Trevor Siemian and rookie Ian Book.

“This is going to be the $6 million question,” Payton said of the Saints’ quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. “And honestly, we’re going to look closely at what’s best for our team in this game, and as the week progresses, we’ll see how we want to play it out and we’ll be ready to play Sunday.”

After Winston went down with the torn anterior cruciate ligament, Siemian ran the offense for the remainder of the game. He completed 16-of-29 passes for 159 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

“He did a good job,” Payton said. “There are a number of plays that he’s got a free rusher, the ball’s getting out in time. I thought he played with poise and made good decisions. It’s what you want someone to do that’s coming into a game, really, with not a lot of work. I thought he handled the situation well. The tape was good for him.”