The New Orleans Saints freed up salary cap space on Wednesday after quarterback Drew Brees agreed to turn a portion of his 2015 base salary into a signing bonus.
According to ESPN.com, the Saints created $2.6 million in cap space by making $5.2 million of Brees’ base salary into a signing bonus. His cap hit for 2016 is now $30 million.
Brees missed the first game of his career due to injury last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers because of a bruised rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.
Brees said he is optimistic he will play on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys as the Saints seek their first win of the season.
Brees is expected to take some practice reps for the first time Wednesday after his Tuesday throwing session went well during the Saints’ off day, a league source told ESPN’s Ed Werder.
Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday morning that it’s “safe to say” Brees will throw every day this week as the Saints continue to evaluate his shoulder.