Saints QB Jameis Winston got the start in Monday night's preseason game vs. the Jaguars and took full advantage of the opportunity. He completed 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and 2 TDs to WR Marquez Callaway across 3 possessions. QB Taysom Hill came on in relief, finishing 11-of-20 for 138 yards and a score. HC Sean Payton declined to name a starter after the game. But, at this point, it'd be a major surprise if Winston wasn't under center for the opener vs. the Packers.
Larry Holder of The Athletic says of the Saints QB battle that Jameis "Winston holds the edge in the race, in my eyes." Holder adds, "But this remains a competition to watch." We're certainly not treating the competition as decided, especially ahead of Winston's 1st preseason start. (Hill started the opener.) But keep this in mind in case you happen to be choosing between Saints QBs late in a best-ball draft this weekend. We'll see how both fare Monday night against the Jaguars.
Saints QB Taysom Hill arrived to camp “noticeably slimmed down,” per Katherine Terrell of The Athletic. The change was intentional. “I think as a thrower it’s important to have a stronger backside than it is your frontside shoulder, and it’s natural to work your frontside muscles than it is your backside,” Hill said. “I can tell you for me historically when I get sore it’s all your (decelerating) motions from taking so many reps and throwing so many balls. So throughout my career here, I was always trying to find that balance of being strong enough to do what I was going to be asked to do, but still be able to throw a ball and so forth. So there was definitely a transition there.” This is the first time as a pro that he’s exclusively worked at QB, so the change in regimen makes sense. Last year alone, Hill lined up as a QB, RB, WR and TE — plus he held various special teams roles. No clear favorite has emerged as the QB1 in the early portion of training camp.
Here's the word from ESPN's Mike Triplett on the 1st Saints training-camp practice: "Taysom Hill got the first turn of training camp as New Orleans' starting quarterback during Thursday's practice. However, Jameis Winston generated more buzz with an efficient day." Triplett said Winston's rhythm, timing and patience looked better than last summer, which he conceded gave just a "small sample." We'll certainly be watching this QB competition through camp and the preseason.
The Boston Globe's Ben Volin hears from "league sources" that QB Taysom Hill is the favorite to start for the Saints this season. "If the experiment fails, [HC Sean] Payton can fall back on [QB Jameis] Winston and a more traditional pocket-based offense and move Hill back to his Swiss Army Knife role," Volin writes. This is the 1st time all offseason we've heard someone call Hill the favorite in this battle. Multiple Saints beat writers -- plus NFL Network's Ian Rapoport -- have tabbed Winston the starter. We're still leaning in that direction, but this will be 1 of the biggest position battles for fantasy owners to track this summer.
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