With Jameis Winston listed as doubtful for the Saints’ London matchup with the Vikings this weekend, backup Andy Dalton is set to make his first start with the team. It’s not out of the question that he turns the situation into a quarterback competition.
Through three games, Winston has looked a lot more like the player he was in Tampa than the player he was last season in New Orleans. The former No. 1 pick is leading the NFL in air yards per pass at 6.0, and he’s paying for it just as he did in 2019. Winston has five interceptions in his last two starts, a pair of losses.
While a back injury may be contributing to his struggles, Winston seems to have lost his way without Sean Payton. In 2021, he threw only two interceptions in seven starts.
Head coach Dennis Allen said after the Saints’ Week 3 loss that he feels “confident” in Winston, but that may change if Dalton delivers in London. The former Bengals starter isn’t your average backup quarterback, with 148 starts and three Pro-Bowl selections under his belt.
Dalton has thrown 17 interceptions in 15 starts since being released by the Bengals in 2020, but the situation in New Orleans is much better than the one he had in Chicago last season. If Dalton is able to show he’s less turnover-prone than Winston, this will be a conversation that grows louder heading into Week 5.
When Allen expressed confidence in Winston earlier this week, he stressed that “we all need to do better.” That statement at least leaves the door open for a shakeup.
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