Drew Brees Injury Analysis

Saints QB Drew Brees left Sunday’s game at halftime against the 49ers with injuries normally seen in a motor vehicle accident.

ESPN’s Ed Werder revealed via an insider Monday that Brees suffered multiple broken ribs, three on the left and two on the right, along with a collapsed lung.

Drew Brees Injury Analysis

Brees suffered several hard hits Sunday with one rib fracture also puncturing the chest wall on the right side during the game. This allowed the pleural cavity to fill with air thereby reducing the space available for the lung to expand. This is known as a pneumothorax.

Reports indicate that Brees could miss 2-3 weeks with injured reserve not discussed and Jameis Winston likely starting. That timeframe is rather optimistic in that it takes rib fractures roughly 6 weeks to heal.

Rib injuries can be played through, but not to the severity that Brees has. Ideally, the Saints sit him for at least the next 4 games to heal before returning to face the Chiefs.

If the Saints can at least break even over the next month, then that keeps in the playoff race. If they flounder, then Brees may be forced to return sooner.

NFL Betting Tip

The Saints’ odds to win the Super Bowl are +750, according to PointsBet, but that number is expected to worsen with today’s news.

Teams are generally optimistic regarding return to play scenarios but injuries such as this require rest. To come back against teams with a winning record under .500 to risk further injury would be ill-advised.

Brees should return in time for the playoffs, but it’s best not to rush back in order for him to have a chance at hoisting the Lombardi trophy in February.

Fantasy Football Tip

Consider grabbing Jameis Winston as a waiver wire, but Sean Payton still loves to use Taysom Hill in possible scoring spots, which probably limits Winston’s ceiling.

Thank you for reading our Drew Brees Injury Analysis! Kyle Trimble is a licensed physical therapist who also works as an injury spotter for Dr. David Chao. Kyle has extensive experience in outpatient orthopedics, skilled nursing, acute care hospital, and home care. He’s also a member of Bills Mafia and runs the website Banged Up Bills.

Disclaimer from Kyle: My opinions are my own. Any thoughts I have on the injuries are based on media reports, my knowledge of the injury, and speculation based on the information currently available including video and print media. This information is subject to change based on the information released by the team.

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