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As anticipated based off his prior allusions, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed Friday evening that Jameis Winston will start at quarterback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the team’s second preseason game. It’s good to have that confirmation from Payton, but it’s something he previously suggested would happen based off his approach at quarterback throughout the summer — giving Taysom Hill the first shot before rotating Winston in with the starting lineup.
It’s a trend we’ve seen from the very first training camp practices, when Hill got the first two days to run the first-string offense and Winston followed up with his own two days of work. The strategy led to Hill starting the first few drives against the Baltimore Ravens a week ago until Winston stepped in with the second-team offense. Now Winston gets to show what he can do with the starters around him.
And he’ll have a big stage to debut from. The Saints-Jaguars game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN on Monday night (kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT), and Winston has an opportunity to finally separate himself in the quarterback competition. Hill is already convinced it’s his job to lose, and while Winston may have had the higher moments he hasn’t strung together for more than a few days at a time before plummeting back to earth.
It says a lot about both passers that we’re all still uncertain who will win, speaking both to Hill’s legitimate growth as a passer and to Winston’s frustrating inconsistency from one snap to the other. It really is anyone’s guess right now. Maybe Winston steps up in a big spot.
Just don’t ask Alvin Kamara if he should throw his hat in the ring for a chance to start under center. “They don’t want me to hurt Jameis and Taysom’s feelings,” he laughed after practice to the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Rod Walker.
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