What does Taysom Hill’s finger injury mean for the future?

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) watches a replay during the first half of a game with the Cowboys.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) watches a replay during the first half of an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in New Orleans. Hill is feared to have suffered a torn tendon in his middle finger on his throwing hand Thursday in the Saints’ 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported, though additional tests will reveal the extent of the damage.  | Derick Hingle, Associated Press

Hill made his first start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints this season on Thursday but injured his middle finger in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys

Injuries became a theme of Taysom Hill’s career when he played at BYU.

Injuries are again becoming a theme for Hill in 2021 during his fifth NFL season with the New Orleans Saints.

Hill reportedly suffered a torn tendon in his middle finger on his throwing hand Thursday in the Saints’ 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported, adding that the injury — called mallet finger, “it essentially means that top of your middle finger does not really work, does not really flex” — often requires surgery.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported, though, that Saints doctors determined that Hill will not require surgery, and will instead try to play through the injury.

Hill made his first start at quarterback this season on Thursday. He accounted for 365 yards by completing 19 of 41 passes for 264 yards while also rushing for 101 yards on 11 carries.

While Hill threw two touchdown passes, he also threw four costly interceptions. Three of those interceptions came in the fourth quarter, including a pick-six that put the Saints down 17 with just under three minutes to play.

It was the fifth straight loss for New Orleans.

Hill has already missed time earlier this season due to a concussion, and he did not play the past two games with a partial tear in the plantar fascia in his foot.

Hill injured the middle finger when he hit his throwing hand on a Cowboys pass rusher on a pass attempt. He briefly entered the medical tent and had a splint put on his finger but did not miss any game time.

“It is doing OK,” Hill told reporters about his finger postgame. “We will get it assessed and figure out a plan tomorrow. I went to throw a ball and I hit it on a hand.”

Hill took over starting quarterback responsibilities for Trevor Siemian, who had gone 0-4 as starter over the past month. Siemian had replaced the team’s original first-string quarterback Jameis Winston, who tore his ACL in a win over Tampa Bay on Oct. 31.

“I thought that he played with a lot of heart and a lot of guts,” Saints coach Sean Payton said, when asked if Hill’s injury affected him.

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