Saints' Jameis Winston: Agrees to amended contract
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The Saints and Winston agreed to a restructured contract Monday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
The two-year deal that Winston signed last offseason initially came with a cap hit of $15.6 million for 2023. Following the restructure, though, he'll be able to make up to $8 million in the coming campaign, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Winston started the first three games of this past season for New Orleans before effectively getting shut down after Week 3 in favor of Andy Dalton, despite attaining full health by Week 7. Now with Derek Carr landing a four-year, $150 million contract with the team this offseason, Winston will remain a backup this fall.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Offered restructured deal
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The Saints offered Winston a restructured deal on Friday that would allow him to stick with the team for the 2023 season, Dianna Russini of ESPN reports.
If Winston were released as a post-June 1 cut the Saints would save $12.8 million against the cap, but it appears the team is open to keeping him in house as a backup to new top quarterback Derek Carr. The 29-year-old was relegated to backup duties behind Andy Dalton after beginning the 2022 season in the starting role, due in part to the fact that he suffered four fractures in his back Week 1. New Orleans would likely cut Winston if he doesn't agree to terms on a contract restructure, meaning he could still could opt to test his market as a free agent.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Likely cap casualty
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The Saints are expected to release Winston as a post-June 1 cut, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
New Orleans can save $12.8 million against the cap by releasing Winston, who was relegated to backup duties down the stretch of the 2022 campaign, after June 1. With the team expected to announce an official agreement with Derek Carr imminently, Winston is clearly the odd man out in the Saints' quarterback room. Meanwhile, Andy Dalton is scheduled to hit free agency, giving New Orleans a clear need at the No. 2 quarterback spot.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Relegated to backup role in 2022
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Over three games in the 2022 season, Winston went 73-for-115 passing for 858 yards and four touchdowns to five interceptions. He also recorded five rushes for 16 yards.
Winston finished his third season in New Orleans as the backup quarterback behind 35-year-old journeyman Andy Dalton. The 29-year-old initially took over the Saints' starting job for the first seven contests of the 2021 season before he suffered a torn ACL and sprained MCL in late October. Winston retained his starting job heading into the 2022 campaign, but he played through injury over the first three games after sustaining four fractures in his back Week 1. He was then inactive Weeks 4 and 5, allowing Dalton to take over and never let go of the Saints' No. 1 quarterback spot. Winston returned Week 6 and was listed as the team's No. 2 quarterback for the final 12 games, though he was never deemed 100 percent healthy by the Saints during this span. As a result, it's unclear how much his injury affected the team's decision to roll with Dalton as the starter. With Dalton now set to hit free agency and Winston entering the final season of a two-year, $28 million contract, there's little clarity as to how either of these two fit into New Orleans' plans at quarterback for the 2023 season.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Not 100 percent, per Allen
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Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Winston may not be 100 percent healthy at any point the rest of this season, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Winston has been able to practice fully for weeks, but Allen continues to stick with Andy Dalton as the Saints' starting quarterback, even though the latter has compiled a 2-5 record in his nods this season. As such, Winston is poised to be the team's No. 2 option and may not get a chance to regain the top spot on the depth chart without an absence from Dalton.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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The Athletic reported that Winston could start for the Saints in Week 11, and the potential of that happening makes it worth your time to add Winston. While he might struggle again like he did earlier in the season before he suffered a back injury and lost his job to Andy Dalton, there's still the possibility that he could become a low-end starter in all leagues. Fantasy managers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues should have Winston rostered for sure, and he's worth at least 15-20 percent of your remaining FAB in those formats. In one-quarterback leagues, Winston is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Won't start despite being healthy
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Head coach Dennis Allen said Andy Dalton will start over Winston in Sunday's game against the Raiders, despite the Saints now considering Winston to be healthy, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Winston was active as a backup for the past two games, but it was unclear to what extent, if any, his back and ankle injuries had on Dalton serving as the starter. Whatever the case, Dalton is set for another start Sunday against the Raiders, while Winston will continue in the backup role even though his health is no longer a concern. The question now is how long Dalton can keep the job before the Saints look to make another change.
Either Winston or Dalton would be a fine stream against the Raiders, who give up the most Fantasy points to quarterbacks. Still, they're strictly bye week or injury replacements. I wouldn't start either Saints quarterback over anyone you've been starting regularly, including Aaron Rodgers.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Status for Week 8 to be determined
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Coach Dennis Allen said Monday that the Saints have yet to make a decision regarding who will start between Winston and Andy Dalton on Sunday against the Raiders, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Winston has been active the last two games, but Dalton still started and logged most of the first-team reps in practice with the former available only in case of emergency. "I do think Jameis is getting healthier," Allen noted. "Both of those guys will have themselves ready to play." Winston hasn't practiced in full since Week 1 as he's been tending to a number of health concerns including four small fractures in his back, an ankle issue and a hip flexor injury. Only the back and ankle injuries were noted on the team's Week 7 practice reports, but returning to full activity at some point this week may be the tell that Winston is ready to resume his starting role.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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There's a chance Winston can get his starting job back in Week 8 after Andy Dalton fell apart in Week 7 at Arizona with three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. It would be a good time since the Saints play the Raiders, Ravens and Steelers in the next three games. Prior to hurting his back, Winston had one game with 24 Fantasy points in three outings, and he would hopefully take advantage of this great receiving corps when healthy, assuming Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) come back soon. If Winston remains out in Week 8 then consider Dalton a streamer against the Raiders. Despite the three interceptions against the Cardinals, he also had 361 passing yards and four touchdowns. Add Winston or Dalton for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Available Week 7, but may not start
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Winston (back/ankle) doesn't have a designation for Thursday's game at Arizona, but head coach Dennis Allen has yet to name the Saints' starting quarterback between Winston and Andy Dalton (back), Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Saints have listed Winston as a limited participant on each of their last six injury reports, and while he'll be active for a second straight contest, it's unclear if he's healthy enough to usurp Dalton for the No. 1 role. Allen doesn't have to tip his hand at any point before Thursday's kickoff, but if Winston is deemed fit to start after missing two games due to four small fractures in his back and an ankle injury, he'll be doing so without wide receivers Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) and tight end Adam Trautman (ankle).
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Week 7 Waiver Priority List
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There's a chance Winston could return for Thursday's game at Arizona after being out for the past three outings with a back injury, and it would be great if he's healthy soon. The Saints have a great stretch run coming up against the Cardinals, Raiders, Ravens and Steelers, and those would all be favorable matchups for Winston, especially if the receiving corps in New Orleans can get healthy. It's not a bad idea to stash Winston if you have an open roster spot, and he would be a streamer in Week 7 if he returns Thursday night. Add Winston for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: May not start Week 7
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Winston (back/ankle) was listed as a limited participant at Tuesday's practice.
Winston has appeared as a limited participant on each of the Saints' last five practice reports, but the team hasn't indicated that he's on track to reclaim starting quarterback duties just yet. He made enough progress to dress as the backup to Andy Dalton in last weekend's loss to the Bengals, but Winston may have been available only in an emergency. Dalton is nursing a back injury of his own coming out of Week 6, but John Hendrix of SI.com notes that it was Dalton rather than Winston who took first-team reps under center during the open portion of Tuesday's practice. The Saints will likely wait until Wednesday to offer more clarity on Winston's role for a Week 7 matchup with the Cardinals on Thursday night, but the 28-year-old looks like he could be trending toward another week of backup duty while he continues to recover from his injuries.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Listed as limited participant
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Winston (back/ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's estimated injury report, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Winston was active for Week 6, but he's still not 100 percent and operated as a backup to Andy Dalton (back). Per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, Winston won't be thrust into game action until he's back to full strength, so if Dalton is available, expect the veteran quarterback to continue drawing starts for New Orleans.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Returns Sunday, but backing up Dalton
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Winston (back/ankle) is listed as active Sunday against the Bengals.
While Winston will be available for the first time since Week 3, he won't be leading the Saints offense Week 6 and instead will be Andy Dalton's backup in an emergency capacity. Winston's next chance to reclaim the starting role is this Thursday at Arizona, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday that Dalton may be able to keep the No. 1 gig with another steady performance this weekend. As a result, there's no telling when (or if) Winston will supersede Dalton, even after he's put four small fractures in his back and an ankle issue behind him.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Won't start but could be active
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Winston (back/ankle) won't start Sunday's game against the Bengals but may be active, with the Saints listing him as questionable on their final Week 6 injury report, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
It's an upgrade after Winston was listed as doubtful last week and ultimately made inactive for the Saints' win over the Seahawks. Andy Dalton is set for another start at quarterback, with Taysom Hill likely poaching some direct snaps in key spots. Winston seems to be making progress and could be back as the starter as soon as Week 7, when the Saints travel to Arizona for a Thursday night game.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Limited again Thursday
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Winston (back/ankle) was limited at Thursday's practice.
For a second consecutive day, Winston had a cap on his reps, but it's far more activity than he logged before he didn't play Weeks 4 and 5. Still, he seems to be inhibited by four small fractures in his back and an ankle issue. Ultimately, Winston's listing on Friday's practice report will be telling in terms of his ability to return Sunday against the Bengals.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Back at practice Wednesday
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Winston (back/ankle) returned to practice Wednesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Winston sat out the Saints' last two games as he tended to a number of injuries, including four small fractures in his back and an ankle concern. While he may be limited in his first practice since Week 3, his presence on the field Wednesday is a step in the right direction as the Saints prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Bengals. As for the receiving corps, Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) weren't spotted on the field Wednesday, so Winston may not have some of his top targets this weekend, assuming he makes it all the way back.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Out for second straight week
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Winston (back/ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Though Winston has seemingly moved past a hip flexor injury, he'll end up missing his second straight game while he recovers from four small fractures in his back in addition to an ankle issue. Andy Dalton will pick up another start in place of Winston, who will turn his focus toward getting ready for the Saints' Week 6 matchup with the Bengals. Jake Luton and Taysom Hill are both active as backup options behind Dalton.
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Saints' Jameis Winston: Not starting, deemed doubtful
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Winston (back/ankle) will be listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Seattle, while Andy Dalton will start, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Saints are leaving the door open for Winston to be active in a backup role. He's not a Week 5 fantasy option, missing out on a friendly matchup against a Seahawks team that's been much better than expected on offense and even worse than expected on defense.
