The New Orleans Saints won’t have Jameis Winston for the rest of 2021 after suffering an ACL tear against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The seven-year pro needed assistance in leaving the field during the second quarter and damaged his MCL.
Luckily, the Saints still won against the Buccaneers with Trevor Siemian taking over.
But they will be facing a dilemma at quarterback with their starter sidelined.
#JameisWinston @Saints exits with apparrent left high ankle sprain. This is the specific danger wkth horse collar play. Difficult to tape/support for return. pic.twitter.com/3fHDY3biKH
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 31, 2021
There were suggestions for signing Cam Newton for the time being.
However, that’s not a guarantee that the Saints will continue to be successful.
Instead, retaining Winston as their starter next season will be the best decision for several reasons.
Winston Is Doing Okay
He’s not putting up monstrous numbers, but the Saints already won five games with him under center.
Winston is taking care of the ball better than his last season as the starter for Tampa Bay, where he had 30 interceptions.
This year, he only had three interceptions in just two games.
More importantly, he has a touchdown pass in all but one match.
Injury overshadowed dis dot man… pic.twitter.com/8XP5zKd1nv
— ken (@JaiIposeShawty) November 1, 2021
Despite having an impressive 5-2 record, Winston is still learning the ropes of being a starter again, which shows with his inconsistencies.
Give him more time to get comfortable on the spot, and he will improve on his decision-making.
But it’s hard to deny that his arm gives them a good chance of winning.
There must be no competition for the starting role once he fully recovers.
However, the Saints must sign him to a long-term deal because he is on a one-year contract.
No Sense In Signing Newton
Head coach Sean Payton is a proven winner, regardless of the quarterback.
He won a Super Bowl with Drew Brees and had winning records when Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill were starters.
The same script would persist with Winston even if the former Buccaneers had 11 total passing attempts last season.
He tweaks his system to let the quarterback thrive and make plays.
It’s been confirmed that Jameis Winston is out for the season with a torn ACL
Cam Newton to NOLA? ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/aoWlFUYSNv
— PFF (@PFF) November 1, 2021
Therefore, they will be in good hands if Siemian or Hill starts under center because Payton will give them a chance to win.
It’s not as if Winston was putting up huge numbers through seven games.
There’s no doubt that Cam Newton is a talented athlete that can help improve the team that will sign him.
But the Saints might create a controversy with the former league MVP being Winston’s backup when the latter returns.
The Saints Are Talented On Both Sides
Winston showed command of the Saints’ offense by either going for the deep throw or activating his skill players.
They may rank 29th in total yards per game with 305.9, but they rank 13th in points per game at 25.1.
It’s a luxury for any quarterback to play with a versatile back like Alvin Kamara and steady receivers like Tre’Quan Smith and Deonte Harris.
Imagine how potent their offense can still be once Michael Thomas returns.
As the offense pile up the points, their defense has been elite all season.
.@Saints @camjordan94 stacking sacks; none bigger than this one on a 3 man rush to get the ball out of Brady’s hands. On a day when the Defense had to step up to stop the #Champs they made great plays Total Team Effort #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/WHmSSs4EMN
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 1, 2021
They rank tenth in yards allowed per game (344.3) and fourth in points allowed (18.3).
Opposing quarterbacks finish with a 79.0 passer rating (second-best in the NFL) against them.
The Saints are also tied for first in interceptions with 11.
With many talents on offense and defense, Jameis Winston did his part to deliver wins.
That said, there’s no reason to part ways with him once he regains full strength.
NEXT: Jameis Winston Has Another Odd Performance In Saints Win