When the Saints played the Eagles in Week 11, quarterback Drew Brees told the team’s younger receivers they had to step up because Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara were being doubled by the Philadelphia defense.
Rookie Tre’Quan Smith did exactly that, but hurt his foot and wound up inactive against the Falcons on Thursday. That meant Brees had to look elsewhere and, as with most things for the Saints this season, it turned out just fine.
Brees threw touchdown passes to Dan Arnold, Tommylee Lewis, Austin Carr and Keith Kirkwood. It was the first or second NFL touchdown catch for each player and the first time in the Super Bowl era that four undrafted players caught touchdowns for one team in the same game.
Kirkwood, who moved up from the practice squad a couple of weeks ago, said other undrafted players should take inspiration from Thursday’s results.
“To all those young guys that are out there who don’t get drafted, and who don’t get that call on draft day, just keep going. Keep pushing because your opportunity is going to come, and it’s [what] you do with it,” Kirkwood said, via ESPN.com. “Are you going to take advantage of it, or are you going to fold? You see a true testament to this organization, to this team of how undrafted players make a name for themselves here, so I think it definitely showed today.”
Brees has now thrown 29 touchdown passes to 13 different players this season. That ability to make plays with anyone who is on hand is a big reason why the Saints are 10-1 and Brees is an MVP favorite.
