Perhaps it’s not a big surprise at this point, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday morning that Jameis Winston has been named the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback, beating out Taysom Hill, and will start Week 1 of the regular season against the Green Bay Packers.
The job was up for grabs following the retirement of Drew Brees in March after 20 seasons in the NFL, 15 of which were with the Saints, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 12 of those 15 years (he was named to it once in five seasons with the Chargers).
Winston and Hill had been pretty even during preseason before New Orleans’ most recent preseason game earlier this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Winston was tremendous and Hill struggled.
The decision to start Winston should allow Hill to resume playing the utility role he has excelled in during his four seasons with the Saints.
Winston is in his second season with New Orleans.