Saints hold on announcing starting QB for Thursday, but signs point toward Andy Dalton

Who the New Orleans Saints will start at quarterback Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals will be a game-time decision, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday, but signs point toward Andy Dalton over Jameis Winston. 

The Saints had a much lighter load of practice this week due to the quick Sunday-to-Thursday turnaround. Winston’s status on the injury was listed as limited Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as he continues to heal from back and ankle injuries. Dalton, meanwhile, was limited just Monday and Tuesday before upgrading to a full-participation status Wednesday. He was apparently dealing with a back issue.

“I feel good,” Dalton said Wednesday. “It’s obviously a short week, so there’s just like little things you got to deal with, but yeah, I feel good.”

Thursday marks the Saints’ Week 7 game. Dalton has been their starter since Week 4. In his three games, he has compiled a 1-2 record, averaging a 63.1% completion rate and 195 yards passing per game. He has thrown three touchdowns and just one interception. 

In the same amount of work between Weeks 1 and 3, Winston has also gone 1-2. He has completed 63.5% of his passes and averaged 286 yards passing per game. He has thrown more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four).

“I don’t think that the core of what we’re doing changes (with the quarterback),” Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said. “There might be particular plays again that Andy likes or that Jameis likes depending on who’s playing that we might get to more if one guy was playing or not. But I would say maybe 90% of the offense isn’t changing.” 

Taysom Hill was technically last week’s backup while Winston was the “emergency third quarterback,” as described by Allen. Hill has taken snaps at the quarterback position but been used more in the ground attack. He has run the ball 26 times for 267 yards and five touchdowns. He has only thrown it five times, completing three of those passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. 

Allen didn’t mention Hill as a starting possibility for Thursday, though.

With Dalton, the Saints seemed to have found a balance on offense. In the past two games, they rushed for more than 200 yards (235 in Week 5 and 228 in Week 6) and still threw for a reasonable amount (203 and 171, respectively). Winston’s most balanced game was the opener, when New Orleans passed for 234 yards and rushed for 151. Otherwise, the team’s passing yards doubled — even quadrupled in Week 3 — the rushing total.  

“I obviously had a lot of time during training camp and even in the preseason games, but regular-season action is obviously a little different,” Dalton said. “But yeah, I think it’s just one of those things. I’m really comfortable with everything that I’m being asked to do and what we’re doing and the communication with everybody.”