Without Michael Thomas, resting Drew Week in Week 15 is the smart move
Michael Thomas helps make everything run smoother on the offensive end, and with him out, leaving Drew Brees sidelined could be a smart move.
The New Orleans Saints were rolling until they traveled to Philadelphia last week. The Saints were held without a score in the first half of that game, and they desperately looked like they could have used future first-ballot Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
The 41-year-old, who is leading the league in completion percentage and has for the past three seasons, went down in Week 10 with multiple fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. He was put on the injured reserve, missing at least three games.
He’s already been announced the starter for the Saints’ Week 15 game, a matchup in which they’ll be facing the one-loss Chiefs. However, the more recent news is that 2019 Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas will now be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.
Michael Thomas now out for rest of regular season but back healthy for postseason, per sources. His ankle just was not getting better with practice and games. https://t.co/ccH06nceJe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 19, 2020
The Saints have already declared Brees the starter, and he’s going to play. That’s not what we’re saying. While Brees may play, it may be best to let Taysom Hill keep the starting role or even use Jameis Winston in Brees’ place.
Why?
Well, because for starters, Brees is older and an injury or re-injury could happen easily. Without Thomas, Brees is far more likely to get banged up. Brees and Thomas have played in three games, and in those games, Brees has been sacked three times.
In the six games without Thomas, Brees has eight sacks. While there’s no direct correlation, Thomas’ ability to separate and give Brees an open target does matter, and without him, the offense won’t operate at its max effectiveness.
Hill has been hit quite a bit the last few games as he’s had to get more used to playing the traditional quarterback role. Giving him a few more starts and entering the postseason with both Brees and Thomas at 100 percent may be ideal.
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But, the team is going to give it their all and play who is healthy when the reigning champs come into town, and that’s all the fanbase should be asking for.