$Drew Brees actually has 11 rib fractures$

Drew Brees has more rib fractures than previously known. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees actually has 11 rib fractures

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 11/21/20

Drew Brees was placed on injured reserve by the New Orleans Saints this week, and new information makes it very easy to see why he has to miss a few weeks.

Brees entered Week 10 with three rib fractures suffered against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. Then Brees took this big hit from Kentavius Street in the second quarter of the Saints’ win over the 49ers and suffered two more rib fractures on his left side. He also had a collapsed lung.

ESPN’s Ed Werder, who shared the initial report about Brees’ five rib fractures, shared more information on Saturday about the quarterback’s status. Werder says doctors have discovered six more rib fractures, giving Brees a total of 11 he is recovering from.

In a conversation tonight with Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback said that doctors have been encouraged by his progress — specifically improvement in lung function and the continued dissipation of the pneumothorax suffered last week. They’ve also discovered 6 more rib fractures.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 22, 2020

Brees had X-rays, CAT scans and has been seen by doctors every other day this week. They have now confirmed eight rib fractures on his left side and three on the right. That’s more than double the total from testing performed on Monday that revealed five rib fractures.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 22, 2020