"That's doctor's orders," Brees told WWL. "The splint just basically goes on the outside of the thumb. I'm gonna have to tape it on there. It protects the joint to a degree because it does take a while for that ligament to actually heal. So basically while it's healing, it has that internal brace which was sewed... back into my thumb along with the ligament. And then I've got this splint that sits on the outside of my thumb that I have to tape on that's supposed to provide a little bit of protection as well."