The Sports Xchange

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is still unsure if he will be able to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Brees will work with coach Sean Payton to make a final decision, a league source told ESPN’s Ed Werder on Friday.

Payton told reporters Thursday that the quarterback’s shoulder injury appears to be day to day. Payton also indicated that Brees wouldn’t play without throwing in practice sometime this week in preparation for the game.

Brees sustained an injury to his shoulder during the second quarter of the Saints’ 26-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.

Brees, after meeting with an orthopedic surgeon and it was determined he had bruised his rotator cuff, said was “pretty confident” that he would be able to play this week.

While Payton will ultimately have final say, the decision likely will be based on Brees’ assessment of how effective he feels he can be.

Brees, 36, has never missed a regular-season game due to injury in his 10 years with the Saints.

“Just from a pride standpoint, I don’t want to miss a game,” Brees said Wednesday. “I want to be there for my team … I want to play, but this is one of those injuries where you have to be smart.”

Brees is completing 62.8 percent of his passes through the first two weeks of the season, going 54 of 86 for 610 two touchdowns and two interceptions for the 0-2 Saints.