Saints News: Ian Book slated to be Taysom Hill’s backup for Week 16
UPDATE: Ian Book is now in line to START Monday night’s game.
The highlight of New Orleans Saints news this morning is Trevor Siemian landing on the COVID-19 list, meaning that rookie Ian Book will be the backup quarterback when the black and gold take on the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.
We’re seeing a lot of COVID-19 outbreaks around the league and now the Saints are seeing their own players start to land on the list. Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune reported on Thursday morning that Siemian was on the COVID-19 list and with no other quarterbacks on the roster, it’s finally time for Book to shine… Well, as much as a backup quarterback can shine.
Book was active in one other game this season, which was the one right after Jameis Winston was hurt. He didn’t see the field at all and wasn’t the backup in that one, as Siemian started and Hill was still healthy enough to serve as the backup.
NEWS: Trevor Siemian, more Saints players expected to land on COVID-19 list, sources say
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) December 23, 2021
Link: https://t.co/BdiVAi5Ol4 pic.twitter.com/sKwjFsUrzh
Saints News: Ian Book will finally get to serve as a backup quarterback
New Orleans spent a fourth-round pick on Book in this year’s draft and it was a bit of a surprise that they waited that long to add a quarterback considering that they knew Drew Brees was retiring. They re-signed Jameis Winston but he hadn’t started a game in nearly two years.
Book was a fan favorite at Notre Dame and threw for 2,830 yards, 15 touchdowns, and three picks during his final season with the Fighting Irish. He was a solid rusher too, tallying 485 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020.
The Saints have had three different quarterbacks under center this season, as Winston was the starter from Weeks 1-8 before getting injured. Siemian then took over as the starter from Weeks 9-12, and Hill has been the starter in the past three games.
Hill isn’t a premier passer by any stretch of the imagination, but the Saints are 2-1 since he took over as the starter. He’s lost just two games as a starter dating back to last year. When Hill is the quarterback, NOLA finds ways to win.
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As for Book, it’d be nice to see him get some kind of playing time in these final three games but if the Saints continue to win and sit in the running for a playoff spot, I doubt we will see him on the field unless a blowout is taking place.