LOS ANGELES — Drew Brees will be sidelined for at least six weeks.

The New Orleans Saints quarterback injured his thumb during Sunday’s defeat at the Los Angeles Rams. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out on Monday morning the following, “Saints’ QB Drew Brees is expected to undergo thumb surgery as early as today that would be expected to sideline him approximately 6 weeks, per leagues sources.”

The Saints will also need to make a decision on whether or not they will decided to place their franchise quarterback on injured reserve or not. Schefter also tweeted out the following, “If the Saints decide to put Drew Brees on IR for the thumb surgery that is required, he would be unable to practice for six weeks and would to miss eight games. Saints also could not place him on IR and bring him back when ready.”

The injury occurred on the Saints’ second drive of the game on Sunday when Rams defensive tackle, and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald pressured Brees and his hand hit Brees’ throwing hand.

Brees left the game and never returned. 

Without Brees, the Saints will now have to turn to either Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill to lead them through a difficult schedule. This week the Saints play at the Seattle Seahawks, then host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football the following week, then host NFC South rival the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, followed by road games at the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears before returning home to host the Arizona Cardinals. The Saints would then have their bye week the following week.