The Saints placed quarterback Drew Brees on injured reserve Friday, guaranteeing the NFL's all-time leading passer will miss at least the next three games.
Brees suffered rib fractures on each side of his chest and a collapsed right lung last weekend, seemingly when he took a crushing hit from 49ers defensive lineman Kentavius Street in the second quarter of New Orleans' 27-13 win.
Brees remained in the game and threw a touchdown pass before halftime but remained on the sideline for the second half.
Scans on Monday revealed his injuries, which kept him out of practice even before he was placed on injured reserve.
The 7-2 Saints, winners of their past six games, enter Sunday's contest against the Falcons tied for the best record in the NFC and with a half-game lead over the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
The #Saints have placed Drew Brees on injured reserve
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 20, 2020
Final Saints Injury Report for Sunday: https://t.co/0FB8M0nmKS #ATLvsNO | @AcadianNews pic.twitter.com/DI8wX4SX0H
Earlier on Friday, multiple media outlets reported that Taysom Hill — not Jameis Winston — will be the Saints' starting quarterback this week.
MORE: NFL Twitter can't believe Saints chose Hill over Winston
The Saints have yet to put a timetable on Brees' recovery, but he is guaranteed to miss two games against the Falcons and a game against the Broncos in Denver. Brees will be eligible to return Dec. 13 against the Eagles.
Brees remains 388 passing yards short of becoming the first player to ever throw for 80,000 yards in an NFL career.