Drew Brees told WWL Radio after the Carolina Panthers game that he is "very optimistic" he will be playing Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys but that he is still "day to day."

In his weekly postgame interview with the Saints Radio Network's Kristian Garic, Brees said if he's not able to play against Dallas, the team is good hands with Luke McCown.

Sunday's 27-22 loss against the Panthers was the first time in Brees' 15-year career that he had missed a game due to injury.

"I am extremely optimistic so I felt like it was going to be a magic healing as we went along (leading up to Panthers game)," said Brees. "Some of this is uncharted territory for me. It's a matter of functionality. It's not a pain issue. If it were a pain issue, I would play. It's a mobility, strength and functionally issue…'can I make the throws to put us in the best position to win?'"

McCown stepped up with a solid performance against Carolina completing a career-high 31 passes for 310 yards with one interception.

McCown was 16-for-17 for 124 yards in the first half, with his 94.1 percent completion percentage being the highest by a Saints QB in the first half since 1991.

Brees was very impressed with McCown's Saints debut start.

"I thought he played great," Brees told WWL Radio. "I was calling the play with him in the huddle in my mind. I was executing by trying to see it through his eyes from the sideline. He threw it to the right place every time. He did not make a bad decision in this game. We were so close at the end of the game with that throw. Their DB Josh Norman made a phenomenal play. Luke played as good of a game as you can play. Every decision, every throw, his demeanor, his leadership…everything was spot on."