TAMPA, FLA. (AP) - New Orleans coach Sean Payton will have surgery Monday after tearing the MCL and fracturing the tibia in his left leg following a collision on the sideline of the Saints game with Tampa Bay.
He spent the second half in the training room watching Sunday’s game on television and gave the play calling duties over to offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.
Payton will have surgery on the leg Monday and will begin rehabilitation.
Payton fell to the ground and got his leg caught underneath Saints tight end Jimmy Graham when he was tackled by a Bucs defender early in the first quarter.
Payton stayed down while receiving medical attention before being helped to the bench. He remained there with his leg propped on the bench, but kept on his headset.
The Saints players alternated clearing out their two sideline benches between possessions to allow Payton to see from his seat until he was driven off the field on a golf cart with 3:40 left in the first half.
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