Marquee matchup is on: Saints clear Drew Brees to play against Chiefs on Sunday
The Chiefs began the week focused on Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill.
Now, they’ll have to adjust fire and prepare to face a future Hall of Famer.
Drew Brees, who was designated as return to practice this week, is expected to be activated from injured reserve and start Sunday’s marquee matchup between the Chiefs and Saints, according to multiple reports.
Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed the morning reports after his team’s afternoon practice.
Brees hasn’t played since Nov. 15 when he broke multiple ribs and suffered a lung injury in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. In his place, Hill went 3-1 as New Orleans’ starter.
Earlier this week, Payton explained what it would take for Brees to be cleared to face the Chiefs.
“It’s pretty simple.” Payton told reporters, per ESPN. “It’s just functionality, strength, throwing without soreness. I mean there’s a process, and last week with the trainers he had one throwing day, then yesterday the same way.
“So it’s really (whether Brees is) asymptomatic, feeling good, strong, and like he can function and be an asset and play well.”
Brees’ return to the starting lineup didn’t catch Chiefs coach Andy Reid by surprise.
“I figured he would,” Reid said after the Chiefs’ late-morning practice Friday. “I mean, I read somewhere that Taysom was in the special teams meetings, so I figured that Drew was probably healthy and ready to go.
“We’ve got a ton of respect for both guys, but listen, Drew is a future Hall of Famer and well deserving.”
The fact that Brees gets the start sets up a great matchup at quarterback: Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes vs. Brees, one of the longtime greats at the position.
Mahomes is well on his way to establishing his own NFL records and he currently boasts the longest active streak in the NFL with a touchdown pass in consecutive games (24).
But the Chiefs’ quarterback has a ways to go to catch Brees, who holds numerous all-time records, including passing yards (79,612), career completions (7,086) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54), among so many others.
While the game is more than just the two signal-callers on opposite sides of the field, the significance of Brees making his return from injured reserve to face the defending Super Bowl champions isn’t lost on the Chiefs.
“He’s tremendous for this league,” Reid said of Brees. “He’s tremendous for that position and we look forward to the challenge of playing against him.”
NFL fans and observers were happy to hear of Brees’ return.
This story was originally published December 18, 2020 at 10:15 AM.
