Saints QB Drew Brees ‘pretty confident’ he will play Sunday

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he is "pretty confident" he will play Sunday.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he is "pretty confident" he will play Sunday, the team announced on Wednesday. 

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrew examined MRI scans of Brees' injured shoulder and determined that he has a bruised rotator cuff, according to ESPN.com's Ed Werder. Brees sustained the injury in the Saints' 26–19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. 

Andrews told Brees that his rehab program this week is vital to the recovery process and is similar to the injury that Brees played through last season.

Brees hasn't missed a a game since Week 17 of the 2005 season.

Brees is completing just under 63 percent of his passes through the first two weeks of the season, going 54 of 86 with 610 yards and two touchdowns.

The nine-time Pro Bowler has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in each of his nine previous seasons with the Saints.

New Orleans goes on the road to play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. 

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- Alex Nieves