If you asked Jameis Winston about his feelings on finally returning to the field after a long road and recovery from his knee injury, the answer you'd hear would almost certainly include the word grateful, or a note about his star teammates.
But when you ask those star teammates, they put it in clearer perspective.
"Y'all know Jameis," running back Alvin Kamara said, speaking to the media for the first time this offseason.
"He excited as hell to be back, foaming at the mouth, like hyperventilating."
And the Saints starting quarterback's excitement to return is easy to understand. He was carried off the Caesars Superdome turf in Week 8 of the 2021 season, his debut voyage in New Orleans ended prematurely by a devastating knee injury. His rehab work began as soon as possible. He never missed a second of OTAs or minicamp, and took as many reps as possible in training camp while being slightly derailed by a minor foot issue.
His preseason work was limited but impressive, culminating with an impressive drive for a touchdown to open the preseason finale against the L.A. Chargers. He finished 4-for-4 for 59 yards, then left the game.
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"That's why we love Jameis, because he a baller," Kamara continued. "You know he love the game and you know he wants us to win so bad and he wants to do everything he can to help us win."
On Sunday, the return hits for real on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf in Atlanta. It comes against the Falcons, a rivalry he wasn't able to experience in his seven starts a year ago.
And while this season might have different vibes heading into it, Winston didn't have to win a quarterback battle, although the team did flirt with bringing in another starting option during the offseason. The head coach and play-caller in his first two seasons in black and gold is gone in Sean Payton, replaced by Dennis Allen at head coach and Pete Carmichael as play-caller.
Still, that won't change Winston's approach, even if there's a bit more literal weight as takes the field wearing a hefty brace to protect that surgically repaired left knee.
"The biggest difference is I didn't I didn't play last year, and I was able to play, but I got hurt. So that's the biggest difference, just coming back, being used to, you know, the trenches again, going out there competing," Winston said. "It's still the same game. They have a good team, we have a good team. And it's just now it's time. It's just a good time. Nothing different at all, really."
The sentiment, while understandable, isn't entirely true. Health appears to be on the Saints' side at this point in a way it never was in 2021. Michael Thomas is on track to play after returning to practice this week and missing the entirety of last season. The team also has new weapons in Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave. Alvin Kamara looks as sharp as ever. The biggest injury hit came in the form of rookie Trevor Penning, though he was likely going to start the season as the backup.
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Another difference is the season-opener in Atlanta allows a good chunk of family members to attend the game, or as Jameis puts it: "A lot of Winstons in the building."
But whether it's in Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, anywhere -- the question that remains to be answered is whether the injury will affect the way Winston plays the game. He says that he won't shy away from scrambling despite a tackle on a scramble being the cause of his injury.
"I'm gonna play football the way that our team needs me to play. If that's pulling it down and running, I'm gonna do that. If that's sitting back and throwing the ball 45 times, I'm gonna do that. So whatever the team needs me to do, I'm willing and able to do it."
That all starts on Sunday.
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