NEW ORLEANS – Jameis Winston couldn’t have made a stronger case to become the New Orleans Saints ’next starting quarterback on Monday Night Football.
Winston completed 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two deep touchdown throws that ended with spectacular catches from receiver Marquez Callaway against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Caesars Superdome. All in the first quarter of a 23-21 victory.
Saints coach Sean Payton declined to make official announcements after the game or announce a timeline for when he will make his decision between Winston and his QB candidate Taysom Hill.
But the timing couldn’t have been better for 27-year-old Winston, who is trying to revive his career after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passed him last season.
Payton recently told NBC Sports that he hopes to name the New Orleans starting quarterback before Saturday’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, making Monday night’s game Winston’s most important showcase.
“I haven’t started a football game in a long time, I’ve been very excited to have the opportunity to start and lead the gang, man,” said Winston, who was really making his first start with the Saints. as there was no preseason when he first joined the team in 2020. “The pace was fantastic, the offensive line was phenomenal and we had guys like ‘Quez making plays all night. You must love that. “.
Winston also quickly added, “As we all know, we’ll have another game next week.”
But when asked if it was important for Winston to step up an opportunity like this, both Winston and Payton acknowledged that it is important for all players, as opportunities like this are so precious during the preseason evaluation period. .
“It’s important to see them all,” Payton said. “I just said that [the players] – It’s a team game, but we always update our resume. You always try to move your best foot forward and create that value for yourself. “
Hill, who turned 31 on Monday, started slowly, but ended his first preseason TD pass at the end of the third quarter, a perfectly placed 14-yard touchdown to receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Hill ended up going 11-of-20 for 138 yards with no changes or hasty attempts. He was once signaled by an intentional grounding, but also led the Saints to a field goal in the final 36 seconds of the half.
Winston completed a 10-yard pass to Callaway in the first instant of the game. Three plays later turned a third down with a tight end attack by Juwan Johnson. He then closed out the first outing with the 43-yard TD pass that Callaway somehow caught on his way to the ground despite an interference penalty against rookie Jaguars corner Tyson Campbell.
Winston’s pass traveled 53.3 yards in the air, according to ESPN Stats & Information: the largest air distance of any Saints pass since 2016 in preseason, regular season or playoffs.
Winston’s second TD pass could have been even more impressive (29 yards to Callaway on the left side) as he had a free blitzer on his face when he threw it. And it could actually have been a more impressive catch by Callaway, as he rolled it up with one hand while he was hit on the ground.
Even Winston’s lone default was not so negative, as he demonstrated some judgment in deciding to check himself up to a third and 16 after initially looking deeply. Winston has shown progress in this area this summer after business losses derailed his career in Tampa.
Before Monday night, the competition between Winston and Hill was arguably too close to the call-up, as the two QBs had done some nice things without any real punch. They both threw interceptions at last week’s preseason opening (though their receivers shared the blame in both cases).
Winston led the Saints in his only two TD drives last week while playing with the second string.
The deep ball has also been a point in favor of Winston. He has thrown his big arm a handful of times throughout the training camp, a new element he could obviously offer to the New Orleans offense after Drew Brees ’retirement.