Drew Brees

Drew Brees told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder that he believes his passing shoulder is healthy and he is capable of making every throw necessary when the New Orleans Saints host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

Brees is planning to start Sunday after taking most of the Saints' practice reps all week. He has been recovering from a bruised right rotator cuff, which forced him to miss Sunday's game at Carolina -- the first time he has missed a game with injury since high school.

Brees went into detail on the specifics of his injury for the first time in a phone interview with Werder. He said the turning point in his recovery was Tuesday, when the inflammation subsided and the strength began to return to normal. He doesn't feel as though the shoulder is at any risk.

Brees still comes with some risks, and it's not like he was playing like the Brees of old before the injury. From a health standpoint, though, it looks like he'll be in good enough shape to start if owners need him.