The official injury report for Sunday's game between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers has been released, and one big question has been answered.

Quarterback Drew Brees will not play, head coach Sean Payton announced today.

"Drew Brees will be out for this game. He'll travel, and I think just where he's at in the rehab and his strength, that he felt, and we all felt like it would be too early for him to play this weekend," Payton said. "I would say next week we'll continue the process, and without trying to make an estimation about his return, we felt like he made progress without the week, and yet he's not where he needs to be or where we feel comfortable with the strength that he needs."

This marks the first game in 10 seasons with the Saints that Brees will not start due to injury. He sat out the final game of the 2009 season, but it was for rest purposes as the Saints had locked up the #1 overall seed in the NFC that year.

With Brees out, veteran backup Luke McCown will make his first start since week 2 of the 2011 season when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

New Orleans (0-2) is still looking for their first win this Sunday on the road against Carolina (2-0). Kickoff is set for noon.

 

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