The Swiss Army Knife is getting his first NFL start.
Multiple national news outlets reported Friday that Taysom Hill will start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. He’s expected to become the first former BYU quarterback to start an NFL game since John Beck in 2011.
“What happens next? We have no idea, but it’s very fun to watch,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who first reported the news, said during a broadcast segment Friday discussing Hill’s expected first start.
What it means
The chance for Hill to earn his first career start comes because New Orleans All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees is dealing with a reported five fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. On Friday afternoon, the Saints placed Brees on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least three weeks. It’s the second time in two years the 41-year-old will miss time because of injury, though the veteran has missed just six games due to injury in his 20-year career.
The Saints are reportedly going with Hill, who has thrown just 18 career regular-season passes, over fellow backup Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL draft who started 70 games for Tampa Bay over the past five seasons. Winston took over for Brees at halftime in the Saints’ win over San Francisco last week and completed 6 of 10 passes for 63 yards while leading a touchdown and field goal-scoring drive in the final two quarters.
Saints coach Sean Payton declined to announce the team’s starting quarterback Friday.
“Yeah, listen, someone’s been named the starter, but we have not announced it. Is that alright?” he told reporters. “... We’ll do what’s best relative to how we play the quarterbacks in the situations and what we are trying to accomplish to win this game.”
ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported Winston will not be a part of any offensive packages for New Orleans unless he’s needed because of injury.
Hill, a former undrafted free agent in his fourth season with the Saints, has completed 4 of 5 passes this year for 86 yards and rushed for 186 yards and a touchdown on a 5.5 yards-per-carry average. During the offseason, the dual-threat quarterback who’s lined up at multiple offensive positions and on special teams for the Saints, signed a two-year, $21 million contract extension as a restricted free agent with New Orleans.
Winston signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Saints this offseason. During his six NFL seasons, Winston has thrown for 19,812 yards and 121 touchdowns while completing 61.4% of his passes. He’s also been prone to turnovers, including throwing 30 interceptions last season.
“People should not be surprised at the Taysom Hill news. There’s a reason the Saints gave him $16 million in guaranteed money this year, and it’s not to be a gadget guy or run down the field on kickoffs,” The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan wrote on Twitter.
What challenges the Falcons will pose
Hill’s first expected start comes as the Saints (7-2) are in the middle of a playoff race and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Whether it’s Hill or Winston earning the most snaps during Brees’ absence, they’ll face the task of keeping New Orleans in position to earn the NFC’s top seed.
New Orleans’ upcoming schedule doesn’t include an opponent with a winning record until its matchup with defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City (8-1) on Dec. 20. Over the next four weeks, the Saints face division rival Atlanta (3-6), Denver (3-6), Atlanta again and Philadelphia (3-5-1).
The Falcons rank 30th in the league in total defense (allowing 410 yards per game) and 31st in pass defense (310.3). Atlanta is much stingier against the run, ranking sixth in the NFL in rush defense (99.7).
That could prove a challenge for Hill, who’s earned a better reputation for his running skills than his passing skills — in regular-season play, he’s completed 10 of 18 passes for 205 yards and an interception, with a 64.9 passing grade.
“Atlanta does a really good job of mixing up some looks. They’re a difficult team to run the football against,” Payton said “... They’ve had some really tough losses, they’re explosive on offense. They do a really good job in the kicking game. And I think they are playing exceptional on defense.”