Former FSU football standout and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Jameis Winston turned back the clock with Monday night’s preseason performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Winston is in a battle with Taysom Hill for the starting quarterback job in New Orleans, and Monday night’s performance in the first quarter looked like prime 2013 FSU Jameis Winston.
Winston finished the game on 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The lone incomplete pass was a third-down checkdown after the offensive line had gotten back-to-back false start penalties to make it third and forever.
Here’s a video of the two touchdown passes:
JAMEIS WINSTON WANTS TO BE QB1
— PFF (@PFF) August 24, 2021
pic.twitter.com/hZcTD8qdDC
SLING DAT THING @Jaboowins! 💪
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 24, 2021
29-yard TD strike to @CallawayMarquez 🙌
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/SPBZczDB1b
These passes are vintage FSU Winston from 2013. Credit has to go to Marquez Callaway on both spectacular catches, but the passes were only where he could make a play on the ball.
The second touchdown pass was perfectly placed over the pylon in the corner of the end zone.
Fans and Analysts React To The Performance
#NFL Fantasy GMs re-considering their upcoming QB choice in re-draft leagues after #Saints Jameis Winston's flawless preseason game last night..... pic.twitter.com/v9OYogCq20
— John May (@juandemayo) August 24, 2021
Michael Thomas waking up this morning after Jameis Winston performance last night. #Saints pic.twitter.com/gBn7DQsVql
— Craig Gartland (@CraigGartland) August 24, 2021
If the Saints start Taysom Hill over Jameis Winston this year I’m getting the NAACP involved
— gianni🦁 (@Clapped_Dre) August 24, 2021
Jameis Winston = QB1
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) August 24, 2021
Taysom Hill = TE1 with Trautman now hurt
Problem = solved pic.twitter.com/SSvcbaZtgz
Sean Payton after the game walking past Taysom Hill to give Jameis Winston the starting QB spot pic.twitter.com/BCE3tXdwLz
— Rich (@UptownDC_Rich) August 24, 2021
Jameis Winston said, ain’t no quarterback competition!!!!!! #WhoDat #Saints
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) August 24, 2021
Yeah @Jaboowins I love to see it brother🙌🏾
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) August 24, 2021
Jameis Winston: 157.5 passer rating tonight 👀
— PFF (@PFF) August 24, 2021
RT 🔁 if he should be QB1 pic.twitter.com/plcmI00Svr
Thoughts
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton didn’t name a starter after the game, but he’ll have questions to answer if Winston keeps up this level of play. Taysom Hill finished the game 11 of 20 for 138 yards and one touchdown pass.
He was also sacked twice and Winston wasn’t sacked at all. Winston was quick with his reads and didn’t force too many passes, which has been key in his success since turnovers have plagued him much of his NFL career.
The chemistry he has with Callaway is undeniable and seems similar to his connection with Rashad Greene.
The Saints have one preseason game remaining against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Jameis Winston has outplayed Hill through two games and would take a mammoth performance from Hill in the final preseason game to change the mind of the general public.