Veteran quarterback Drew Brees will not let an injured shoulder stop him, telling reporters that he is confident about playing against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. 

"I have every intention of playing, but I do have to take it day to day, and I have to be smart with this. So that's what I'm doing," Brees said last Wednesday. 

Brees then added that he is "pretty confident" that he will be playing against the Panthers this Sunday. 

The 36-year-old quarterback also said, according to NFL.com, that it is up to him if he will be playing when they face Carolina.

As of Thursday's practice, Brees is still day-to-day for the Saints, according to ESPN, and veteran backup Luke McCown is getting ready once he is called up to start in Week 3. 

"Listen, I've been at this a long time. I've played this role of a backup for a long time. So the thing with backups around this league is that you prepare every week to be the starter. You have to," McCown said.

In McCown's entire 12-year career in the National Football League (NFL), he started in nine games, according to ESPN. 

But a tweet from Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune said, "(Sean) Payton told the Charlotte media that there's a good chance Brees plays, said it based off Brees' optimism and how he felt. Still day to day."

In two games played this season, Brees has 54 completions for 610 yards and two touchdowns. 

The situation with Brees is very unfortunate for the Saints who have yet to win a game this season. 

New Orleans opened their season with a 31–19 loss to the Arizona Cardinals followed by a 26–19 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which placed the team in a 0–2 slump. 

The Saints will be taking on an undefeated Panthers squad who beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans to begin their 2015 campaign.