TAMPA, Fla. -- New Orleans coach Sean Payton usually points to the fact he doesn’t have to reveal any injury information until Wednesdays. He made an exception Sunday.
Payton suffered a torn MCL and fractured tibia when tight end Jimmy Graham ran into him early in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
“And so we have surgery (Monday) morning,’’ Payton told New Orleans reporters.
After getting hit, Payton spent most of the first half sitting on a bench on the sideline with the leg elevated. He left the field about three minutes before halftime. That’s when medical tests showed the full extent of the damage.
“I think my initial plan was to go up in the (coaches’) box,’’ Payton said. “The problem was just dealing with some of the pain issues.’’
Payton stayed in the locker room for the second half. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt took over the overall team and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who normally doesn’t have play-calling duties, took at that role. But quarterback Drew Brees called the plays when the Saints ran the no-huddle offense.
Payton praised the work of Carmichael and Vitt and said he hopes to return to work Tuesday. Payton said he hopes to be on the practice field Wednesday, when the Saints return to work. But he said he might have to make some adjustments as he heals.
“I might have to be up in the press box for a few games,’’ Payton said. “Because it’s a fracture, its different. If it’s the MCL you can have the brace, but the fracture on the outside means the weight-bearing part of it really changes.’’
Payton suffered a torn MCL and fractured tibia when tight end Jimmy Graham ran into him early in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
“And so we have surgery (Monday) morning,’’ Payton told New Orleans reporters.
After getting hit, Payton spent most of the first half sitting on a bench on the sideline with the leg elevated. He left the field about three minutes before halftime. That’s when medical tests showed the full extent of the damage.
“I think my initial plan was to go up in the (coaches’) box,’’ Payton said. “The problem was just dealing with some of the pain issues.’’
Payton stayed in the locker room for the second half. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt took over the overall team and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who normally doesn’t have play-calling duties, took at that role. But quarterback Drew Brees called the plays when the Saints ran the no-huddle offense.
Payton praised the work of Carmichael and Vitt and said he hopes to return to work Tuesday. Payton said he hopes to be on the practice field Wednesday, when the Saints return to work. But he said he might have to make some adjustments as he heals.
“I might have to be up in the press box for a few games,’’ Payton said. “Because it’s a fracture, its different. If it’s the MCL you can have the brace, but the fracture on the outside means the weight-bearing part of it really changes.’’
Pat Yasinskas | email
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- Joined ESPN in 2008
- Began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990
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Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
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