Drew Brees could be nearing his return back to the field.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints quarterback appears to be making improvements from his 11 fractured ribs as he was seen throwing at practice during the week and is tracking to play as early as Week 14 – next Sunday – against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brees, 41, was placed on the IR on Nov. 20 because his fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. Sunday's Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons would mark the third game he has missed since the injury.
While there is no guarantee Brees will play next week, it is the first game he is eligible to come off the IR.
The Saints may not be in any rush to bring Brees back, though. They have managed to win their first two games without Brees while using Taysom Hill at quarterback, improving to 9-2 – which was the best record in the NFC entering Week 13.
Hill, whom head coach Sean Payton decided to go with instead of a more traditional quarterback in Jameis Winston, entered Sunday with 311 passing yards and four rushing touchdowns in his two games started.
The Saints could potentially clinch a playoff berth on Sunday, depending on how other games play out, which would allow the Saints to take their time in bringing Brees back to the field.
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