The New Orleans Saints' Week 2 preseason matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly holds some significant weight when it comes to their quarterback battle, and it's possible Jameis Winston may have wrapped up the competition with his incredible first-quarter performance.
The former No. 1 overall pick is known for his big arm, and he connected on two long touchdown scores with his new favorite target: Marquez Callaway. On the first drive of the game, Winston took a shot deep into double coverage, and Callaway fought off the defenders to secure the 43-yard bomb while also drawing the flag for pass interference.
💪 @Jaboowins DEEP TO @CallawayMarquez - TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#Saints pic.twitter.com/YheFLsVcRx
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 24, 2021
The pass was fantastic, but the catch was even better. Callaway lost his balance after contact with the defender, and still reeled in the catch while falling forward.
Two drives later, Winston spotted Callaway lined up in single coverage on his left, and he let another bomb fly. Put simply, the ball could not have been thrown better, and Callaway needed just one hand to receive it!
SLING DAT THING @Jaboowins! 💪
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 24, 2021
29-yard TD strike to @CallawayMarquez 🙌
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/SPBZczDB1b
After that second touchdown pass, Sean Payton didn't need to see anything else. He took out Winston and replaced him with Taysom Hill. Winston finished completing 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Many are down on the Saints wide receiving corps with Michael Thomas expected to miss several weeks in the regular season, but Callaway is someone who has consistently garnered praise throughout training camp. He caught all five of his targets in the first quarter for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The undrafted wideout from Tennessee caught 21 passes for 213 yards in his rookie season, but should be primed for a larger role in 2021. I hope your fantasy football drafts have already taken place, because he's no longer a secret.
The Drew Brees era is over. Do the Saints turn to Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill? Download the CBS Sports app and get the latest news, insights, and surprising predictions from our team of experts. If you've already downloaded the CBS Sports app, favorite the Saints so you don't miss any updates.