The New Orleans Saints have dropped four consecutive games to fall out of the NFC playoff race -- and Taysom Hill hasn't taken a single snap at quarterback. Hill, who signed a four-year extension that was worth $22.5 million guaranteed last week, has been active the last four games for the Saints, but has been used as a H-back instead at quarterback while starter Trevor Siemian has struggled.
As the Saints were getting blown out by the Buffalo Bills Thursday night, Saints fans chanted for Hill to replace Siemian at quarterback in the second half. Neither Hill nor third-string quarterback Ian Book took a snap at quarterback (Book was inactive).
As Saints head coach Sean Payton explained, Hill wasn't an option to take a snap under center, either.
"He was still going through the week," Payton said after the game. "We knew he wasn't going to be able to play quarterback this week, but he's listed as full relative to being up. That was his foot."
Hill has battled a foot injury since Week 5, causing him to miss two games. He has been active the last two games, yet hasn't played a snap due to the foot injury. In essence, Hill has been the "emergency quarterback" even though playing quarterback wasn't an option for him Thursday.
In seven games this season, Hill has completed 7 of 8 passes for 56 yards with an interception. He also has recorded 20 carries for 104 yards and three touchdowns and also has four catches for 52 yards this year -- all in seven games played.
So with 10 days off, will Hill take the reins from Siemian as the starter?
"Again, we'll see," Payton said. "We'll look at everything right now. Obviously, we have to."
Siemian has struggled the past two games, completing 56.5% of his passes for 377 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions (73.2 rating). In his four starts, Siemian has completed 57.6% of his passes for 924 yards with eight touchdowns to three interceptions (86.7 rating).
Payton wouldn't commit on Siemian's performance after the blowout loss, yet he's aware something may have to change.
"He struggled. We struggled blocking him. We struggled running," Payton said. "I think it's going to be difficult to do a lot of anything if you can't block him and you can't have some balance."