Ian Book: New Orleans Saints set to start rookie quarterback with Taysom Hill on Covid-19/reserve list
Ian Book could be the fourth player to make a start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints this season with Jameis Winston out for the season through injury and both Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill on the Covid-19/reserve list
Thursday 23 December 2021 23:25, UK
Rookie Ian Book is standing by to start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints on Monday because of more Covid-19 issues for the franchise.
Last week's starter Taysom Hill had been added to the NFL's Covid-19/Reserve list, joining Trevor Siemian who has also started games in recent weeks.
With Jameis Winston out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, that leaves former Notre Dame starter Book in line for a start in only his second game on the active roster.
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If he gets the nod, Book's first regular season opponents will be the Miami Dolphins in what is a massive game for the Saints in their bid to force themselves into the post-season.
New Orleans go into Week 16 buoyed by a 9-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but also knowing that a slip up against the Dolphins could easily end their hopes of making the playoffs.
They are currently ninth in the NFC but level on a 7-7 record with the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the seventh and final playoff spot, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Book was a fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2021 NFL Draft but has been buried on the Saints depth chart for most of the season.
He played 45 games during an impressive collegiate career, throwing 72 touchdowns and only 20 interceptions with a pass completion rate of 63.8 per cent.
