ATLANTA – With his Atlanta Falcons off last weekend, Matt Ryan was watching TV when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees took a hit in the team’s win against the San Francisco 49ers.
Immediately, Ryan knew the script had changed for the Falcons’ game this Sunday in New Orleans. He knew the Saints’ prolific passer wouldn’t be playing in the latest renewal of this NFC South rivalry.
Brees, 41, sustained multiple fractured ribs and a collapsed right lung. Either multipurpose athlete Taysom Hill or former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Jameis Winston is expected to get the nod at quarterback for division leader New Orleans (7-2) against Atlanta (3-6) in a series the Falcons lead 53-49 despite losing four of the past five meetings. Whether Hill or Winston starts, the Saints could wind up using both behind center.
What the Saints are going through is a reminder of how rarely the Falcons have faced such a dilemma since taking Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.
“I’m very proud of the fact that in the better part of 13 years, I’ve only missed three games,” Ryan said.