Saints’ Jameis Winston says he nonetheless has abilities to be beginning QB

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston nonetheless believes he’ll be a beginning quarterback within the NFL once more.

Winston, who was the primary decide within the 2015 draft, hasn’t had a full season as a starter since his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. He hasn’t given up on that concept, regardless of enjoying solely 10 video games up to now two years as a consequence of accidents, however he stated he is aware of it is one thing he’ll need to desk in the meanwhile.

“The primary factor is the chance, and I am simply grateful each likelihood I get a possibility to step right into a constructing and play a sport I like,” Winston stated after the conclusion of observe on the Saints’ facility on Tuesday. “Nonetheless, I do know that I am nonetheless a beginning quarterback on this league. However, man, I’ve to be, like that is all a course of. There’s some Corridor of Famers that made their massive break at 30. So I am nonetheless younger, I am nonetheless 29, however proper now my function is to serve this staff within the function that I am in. And I am all-in to doing that. As a result of once more, I am grateful for the chance to have the ability to nonetheless put on a Saints uniform or to be within the NFL basically.”

He added: “Everybody has totally different journeys on this league. However it’s difficult to be a NFL quarterback. And when you will have a possibility to be a beginning NFL quarterback, you need to take advantage of it. I’ve simply had some unlucky accidents over the previous three years, so that is the place I am at. However this isn’t what I visualize being within the close to future. However the place I am at proper now could be specializing in getting wholesome, specializing in profiting from this chance I’ve to serve Derek [Carr], to serve this staff and serve this group the very best that I can.”

Winston’s seek for a beginning quarterback function made his determination to stick with the Saints in 2023 considerably of a shock. He labored with the Saints to revise his contract every week after the staff signed Carr, and took a big pay minimize to stay in New Orleans for the ultimate 12 months of his two-year deal he signed in 2022.

Winston may have requested for his launch and tried the open market, however he stated he feels comfy in New Orleans. He stated one of many issues that he appreciated was the flexibility to remain in the identical system.

“It is simply very acquainted,” Winston stated. “I belief this group, I imagine on this staff that we’ve an awesome protection, nice offense. And final 12 months we had lots of alternatives to interrupt open some video games, however with the addition of Derek, I feel he is gonna deliver lots of good issues to this staff.”

Winston was named the starter for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, however performed solely seven video games in 2021 earlier than tearing his ACL. He injured his foot and fractured his again in the beginning of final season, and backup quarterback Andy Dalton ended up with the job after three video games.

The Saints caught with Dalton even after Winston felt he was wholesome sufficient to return, and he publicly lamented losing his job to injury. Winston was requested on Tuesday if there was any belief that wanted to be repaired after the way in which issues unfolded final 12 months.

“The perfect dependability is availability,” Winston stated. “And the previous three years or so, I have been banged up. So the management, they need to proceed to maneuver ahead. And I simply know after I first obtained right here, we had been gonna have a few of the prime gamers, a few of the greatest coaches. So by way of trusting this group, I simply know this group — particularly throughout the Sean Payton period — has been very profitable. And [head coach] Dennis [Allen] has principally carried that over, as a result of he’s constructed to be a profitable head coach.

“So for me, my accountability is simply specializing in my well being and being prepared when that chance presents itself.”

Winston additionally mentioned accountability when requested about his relationship with Allen, noting that his job was to purchase into his management and be the very best teammate he could possibly be.

“Oh, effectively, my relationship is, he is my head coach, proper?’ Winston stated. “And once more, my important focus is on me, and the way can I be accountable to what I am doing.”