Taysom Hill suffers finger damage in Saints’ loss to Cowboys, throws three fourth-quarter interceptions

Accidents have been the primary storyline for the New Orleans Saints heading into their “Thursday Evening Soccer” matchup with the Dallas Cowboys and people points bled into the matchup itself. For the primary time this season, Taysom Hill bought the nod at quarterback as Sean Payton elected to show to his Swiss Military knife to completely work below heart within the Week 13 opener. 

Over the primary three drives, each groups have been unable to place factors on the board, however Hill was working effectively, finishing 5 of his eight preliminary move makes an attempt for 29 yards. It was on that eighth throw, nonetheless, the place Hill would jam the center finger of his throwing hand on an incomplete move supposed for receiver Marquez Callaway. 

Replays would later present Hill’s hand colliding into the arm of Dallas defensive finish Dorance Armstrong on the third-and-7 try. Because the punting unit got here out, Hill would retreat to the sideline and be evaluated within the blue medical tent. 

He’d ultimately emerge and start warming up, however with a splint on that center finger. Hill did not miss an offensive snap because of the damage, but it surely clearly bothered him the remainder of the way in which. His accuracy gave the impression to be a problem all through the sport and the Saints struggled to push the ball down the sector via the air, particularly as they tried to play catch up as soon as Dallas constructed up its lead. 

“It is doing OK,” stated Hill of his finger postgame. “We’ll get it assessed and work out a plan tomorrow.”

Following the damage, Hill accomplished 14 of his 33 passes (42.4%) for 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Three of these picks got here within the fourth quarter and included a pick-six. Hill famous that the splint “took slightly little bit of getting used to” because it naturally impacts how the ball comes off the throwing hand. 

“I am not going to hurry to any type of conclusions having not seen the tape or something, however I really feel like we did some issues rather well tonight after which we did some issues actually poorly,” Hill stated of his general efficiency. “Clearly, it is powerful to win a sport whenever you flip the ball over 4 instances. As quickly as you take a look at the stats and also you take a look at what you probably did, that is clearly the factor that jumps out to you. That is disappointing.”

Previous to the finger damage, Hill — who was additionally coping with a foot damage coming into this contest — had solely rushed for 3 yards. The Saints did begin to unleash that piece of Hill’s sport extra within the second half as he completed the competition with a game-high of 101 yards on the bottom on 9.2 yards per carry. He stated after the sport that the ache in his foot is “manageable” and did not restrict what he felt like he’s usually able to in that facet of his sport.

In fact, this all is happening as New Orleans nonetheless tries to seek out its method below heart within the first season of the post-Drew Brees period. Hill has been a candidate to hold that baton going ahead, however the primary sticking level that has prevented him from totally ascending to QB1 has been his lack of improvement as a pure passer. Whereas a sport the place he injured his throwing hand is probably not one of the best barometer to guage that, there weren’t sufficient flashes that ought to forestall the Saints from persevering with to seek for their subsequent franchise quarterback over the subsequent few weeks and months.