The Saints are playing the Cardinals on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 7 of the 2022 NFL season, and once again, they will be trying to win with their backup quarterback starting.
Andy Dalton will get the nod as New Orleans' top QB in the prime-time clash. It will mark the veteran's fourth consecutive start, and he will be tasked with helping the Saints avoid a 2-5 start.
That said, NFL fans tuning into the game will notice that the Saints' normal starting quarterback Jameis Winston is available for this contest. He just isn't making the start.
Indeed, Winston is set to be one of three quarterbacks active for the Saints on Thursday. It seems like it would take a lot to get him into the game, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like he is too far from returning to the team. The only question after that point would be about whether he will be the starter.
Why isn't Winston starting in Week 7? Here's what to know about the injury status of the Saints quarterback as well as New Orleans' depth chart at the position on Thursday night.
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Why isn't Jameis Winston starting for the Saints?
Winston isn't starting for the Saints for two reasons. First and foremost, he is dealing with back and ankle injuries. Those maladies have kept him limited in practice for a few weeks now, and he hasn't been able to return to action as a result.
The other part of the equation is that Dalton has fared well in Winston's stead. The veteran has led New Orleans to just a 1-2 record but the team has averaged 30 points per game with him in the lineup compared to 17 per game with Winston in. The two Saints losses with Dalton have been by a combined seven points, so he is keeping them in games, too.
As long as Dalton is healthy and performing well, the Saints have no incentive to rush Winston back. As such, they can wait until he is fully healthy before playing him. That said, he is evidently healthy enough to be active, so they can dress him as an emergency option if Dalton and Taysom Hill both go down.
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What is Jameis Winston's injury?
Winston has spent the majority of the 2022 NFL season dealing with a back injury. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported ahead of Week 2 that Winston was dealing with four vertebrae fractures and that he was wearing extra padding because of that problem. He still played in Weeks 2 and 3 despite the back injury, but he has been out of action since.
While the back issue has been on the injury report since Week 2, Winston's ankle problem appeared in Week 3. It isn't exactly clear when he suffered that injury, but New Orleans has continued to list it on the team's injury report along with his back problem.
So, Winston has two injuries. At this point, the back issue is more concerning than the ankle problem, but as long as he is listed and Dalton is playing well, expect Winston to serve as an emergency quarterback option for the Saints.
Saints QB depth chart
The Saints will officially have just two players listed as quarterbacks active for their Thursday night tilt with the Cardinals. However, they will be three-deep at the position thanks to the presence of a certain converted quarterback who plays all over the New Orleans offense.
Here is the pecking order at quarterback as the Saints look to improve to 3-4:
1. Andy Dalton
Dalton has started each of the Saints' last three games and has performed well. He has completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 585 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. As mentioned, the Saints' offense is averaging 30 points per game with him at the helm.
Dalton will start against the Cardinals and look to overcome his issues in night games. His teams have lost 11 consecutive road games in prime time, so this is a big prove-it spot for the 34-year-old.
Dalton ➡️ Smith: TOUCHDOWN SAINTS!
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 16, 2022
New Orleans leads 7-0 with 10:33 left in the 1st
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/UludwHKgeL
2. Taysom Hill
Yes, the Saints' backup quarterback is technically listed as a tight end. That's what Hill is according to the team's depth chart, but his usage makes it clear that he's more of a Wildcat-type quarterback for the Saints.
Hill has seen 11 snaps at QB in each of the last two games and will likely continue to be a runner out of the backfield. Thus far this season, Hill has completed 3 of 5 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. He has also run for 267 yards and five touchdowns on just 26 carries.
Taysom Hill taking over.
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
His third rushing TD (fourth total TD) gives the @Saints the lead!
📺: #SEAvsNO on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/X4lelc0SFE pic.twitter.com/MIfce57I1j
Oh yeah, he also has one catch for two yards, too. You know, because of the whole "tight end" thing.
MORE: Breaking down Taysom Hill's snaps and stats by position
3. Jameis Winston
Winston is going to be active on game day and will serve as an emergency quarterback option for the Saints. ESPN's Ed Werder reports that he will be the No. 3 quarterback, so he likely won't enter the game unless both players in front of him are banged up.
Winston had a rocky start to the season as he dealt with injuries. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns, but he threw five interceptions on 115 attempts. He has a higher ceiling than Dalton because of his arm strength, but he is also more turnover-prone, which has proven problematic for the Saints.
