7:20pm: Coach Sean Payton referred to the report that Brees could miss several games as “inaccurate” in an interview with WWL-AM (via Saints on Twitter).

3:37pm: The Saints believe that quarterback Drew Brees has a shoulder injury that will likely cause him to miss some games and potentially several games, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Brees appeared in all 16 games in 2014 while battling an oblique injury and completed over 69 percent of his passes for 4,952 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. While that was not among his best showings, Brees was optimistic that he could get back to form when healthy this season. Now, it sounds like the veteran could wind up spending significant time on the sidelines.

Heading into the season, some posited that Brees was in decline and no longer capable of being a top quarterback. However, the stats tell a different story. Brees attempted 35 throws of 40-plus yards from 2009-11 and completed only seven for 356 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. Compare that to 2012-14, when Brees went a far better 15-of-35 for 773 yards, seven scores and no picks, and it’s obvious the 36-year-old can still get the ball downfield. That said, in 2014 Brees did put up his lowest yardage and TD totals since 2007 on throws that traveled 20-plus yards.