New Orleans Saints starting quarterback Drew Brees is in danger of sitting out the team's Week 3 game against the Carolina Panthers after he suffered a shoulder injury during their 26-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The good news is that the 36-year-old signal caller only bruised his right rotator cuff and did not tear it, according to the results of an MRI taken after the game.
However, Brees' availability is still unknown as team doctors still need to examine the extent of the bruise and how it will respond to treatment before any judgments can be made.
"It's not gonna be something where it's long-term. I think both he and the doctors are all optimistic," said head coach Sean Payton, as reported by ESPN. "A lot of it is gonna be on the treatment and his ability to come back and really feel like he's got the strength he needs."
Payton was optimistic that his prized quarterback is going to be "smart" about his condition and will decline to play if he indeed could not perform at one hundred percent.
The 15-year pro and nine-time Pro Bowler was positive that he can play, though, saying that "everybody's dealing with something", referring to minor injuries during the course of an NFL season.
"Just gotta get a little stronger, that's all," he added.
Eleven-year veteran Luke McCown is the Saints' backup quarterback and is said to be preparing to fill-in for Brees for their game at the Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, as per The Times-Picayune.
Rookie Garrett Grayson, who was selected 75th overall in the third round of this year's draft, is another option for Payton in the middle.