METAIRIE, La. -- In what might be a first in his 16-year career, Drew Brees was limited in practice Wednesday to get some extra rest.
This came on the same day that the New Orleans Saints placed their standout left tackle, Terron Armstead, on injured reserve with his lingering knee and quad injuries.
It’s unclear if the moves are related to the Saints (5-8) being all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs after last week’s 16-11 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Either way, it’s symbolic of a team that is limping to the finish line after losing four of the past five games.
Brees told ESPN it was “just rest” that limited him after his status was listed on the practice report as non-injury related.
It’s common for veteran players around the league to take rest days off practice early in the week. Some quarterbacks do it as part of their routine, including the Arizona Cardinals’ Carson Palmer, whom the Saints will be facing on Sunday.
However, this is believed to be the first time that Brees, 37, has ever done it when not battling an injury issue.
Brees began this year looking like he was on his way toward having one of the best seasons in his 16-year career -- and he still leads the NFL with 321 passing yards per game and is tied for second with 30 TD passes. But Brees had zero TD passes and three interceptions in each of the past two games -- the first time he has ever done that in back-to-back games.
“The good thing is I can make those corrections. I've done it before, many times,” Brees said Wednesday. “I’ve played football a long time. I’ve thrown a lot of interceptions, unfortunately. I’ve also come back and had some pretty huge games after that.
“So the bottom line is that my confidence does not lack, put it that way. And while I’m disappointed in myself for what happened the last two games ... I know I can make those corrections.”
