Saints Forced To Start Rookie QB Ian Book With Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian Sidelined With COVID-19
As COVID-19 rages on around the NFL, the Saints will be starting their fourth quarterback of the season in Week 16.
Ian Book, New Orleans' 2021 fourth-round selection out of Notre Dame, is slated to start Monday night at home against the Dolphins, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian were both placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
That leaves Book as the only healthy quarterback on New Orleans' roster. It will be Book's first career NFL start under center. In four seasons as starter for the Fighting Irish from 2017-20, Book went 30-5, the most wins of any quarterback in Notre Dame history.
Book, 23, led Notre Dame to College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020, both losses in the Semifinals. He completed 63.8% of his passes for 8,948 yards, 72 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and a 147.0 passer rating.
The Saints (7-7) currently are on the outside looking in of a playoff spot. New Orleans can't afford a loss and will welcome in the hottest team in the NFL. The Dolphins (7-7) have won six games in a row after a 1-7 start.
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