Cardinals-Saints preseason finale pushed up due to Tropical Storm Ida

The New Orleans Saints announced Thursday that Saturday's preseason finale versus the Arizona Cardinals scheduled to begin at the Caesars Superdome at 7:00 p.m. local time could be pushed up because Tropical Storm Ida could make landfall as a major hurricane on the United States Gulf Coast on Sunday evening. 

On Friday, the Saints confirmed the change: 

"The New Orleans Saints have announced that the kickoff time of the team's Saturday, Aug. 28 preseason finale vs. the Arizona Cardinals in the Caesars Superdome has been moved from 7 p.m. CT to noon CT (official kickoff time is 12:02 p.m.) in making proper and safe preparations regarding the potential landfall of Hurricane Ida and following consultation and agreement with City of New Orleans officials, the National Weather Service, Homeland Security and the NFL." 

According to an update offered by The Weather Channel at 11 a.m. ET Friday morning, Ida is on track to make landfall as a hurricane around New Orleans at some point Sunday evening or early Monday morning. Shifting the start time of Saturday's contest should allow the Cardinals to safely return to Arizona. 

Reports surfaced earlier on Friday that Saints head coach Sean Payton is naming Jameis Winston his starting quarterback over Taysom Hill after Winston completed 9-of-10 passes for 123 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 157.5 in Monday's exhibition win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.