New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees struggling with shoulder

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton refused to rule out Drew Brees with injury on Monday but conceded the quarterback is struggling after getting sacked against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brees was sacked by Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy in the second quarter of the Saints' 26-19 defeat to Tampa Bay and Payton revealed a subsequent shoulder injury is hindering the 36-year-old's ability to throw.

The Saints' next game is away to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and although reports in the American media claim he will miss several games, Payton remained somewhat hopeful on Monday, although he warned his players they must protect Brees better.

"Today's the day after. You take a peek and see how he's feeling, coming along, and see where we're at Wednesday," Payton said.

"Certainly we'll do the best thing for him and for where he's at. But I think it's early to say.

"Certainly when he takes a shot like he took yesterday - and I didn't see it until watching the film today - you want to make sure he's healthy and he's upright.

"He's been throwing it outstanding. Then he takes that shot and obviously that can affect you, once you get hit like that. So we've got to be better in protection. Too many times he was getting hurried."

Brees has not missed a game because of injury since undergoing shoulder surgery following the 2005 season, his last with the San Diego Chargers.

If Brees is to be sidelined, New Orleans would most likely turn to veteran journeyman Luke McCown, who has nine career starts over 12 seasons and has not started an NFL game since 2011 when at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rookie Garrett Grayson is the third quarterback on the Saints' roster.