Forgotten that Jameis Winston could be the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback in the 2023 season? You’re not the only one.

During NFL Network’s coverage of the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday in New Orleans, where Winston served as an honorary team captain, the former Hueytown High School star was asked about his impending free agency.

“Technically, I’m not a free agent just yet,” Winston said. “I have one more year under contract. My main thing right now is making sure I stay healthy and be ready to play. That’s the only thing that’s on my mind. I got to be ready to play because I know when given the opportunity, I’m going to look forward to taking advantage of it.”

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After striking out in their pursuit of quarterback Deshaun Watson last offseason, the Saints signed Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract. He had started New Orleans’ first seven games of the 2021 season.

Before a knee injury caused him to the miss the final 10 games in 2021, Winston had led the Saints to a 5-2 record and thrown 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions. New Orleans went 4-6 after Winston went down, and three other quarterbacks had 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions for the Saints in 2021.

In 2022, Winston started the first three games, but he battled through back and ankle injuries to play in the final two. Finally forced out of the lineup, Winston missed three games before returning to uniform. But for the final 11 games of the 2022 campaign, Winston served as Andy Dalton’s backup without playing.

In November, Winston said “it hurts my soul” to have lost his starting spot because of injury, but New Orleans coach Dennis Allen never seemed inclined to put Winston back on the field.

Dalton is scheduled to become a free agent on March 15, when his one-year contract with the Saints expires.

After pursuing Watson last offseason, New Orleans has sought to add quarterback Derek Carr this offseason. Carr visited the Saints earlier this month, and NFL Network reported New Orleans had the basics of a trade worked out with the Las Vegas Raiders to obtain the quarterback.

But Carr declined to waive his no-trade clause, forcing his way into free agency when Las Vegas released him on Feb. 14. Had Carr been on the Raiders’ roster the next day, $40.4 million of his contract would have become guaranteed.

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“I’m good,” Winston said of his outlook. “After the season, the biggest thing is mentally and emotionally, so you just got to make sure you’re right up top.”

If Allen has burned the Saints’ bridge back to Winston, then how much will getting rid of the quarterback cost New Orleans?

The Saints could release Winston right now without owing him any money. But he still would use up $11.2 million – or 5 percent — of New Orleans’ salary cap for the 2023 season without being on the roster.

The Saints could reduce the amount of dead money for Winston on their 2023 salary cap to $2.8 million by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation. But Winston’s contract calls for $5.8 million of his 2023 salary to become guaranteed if he’s still on the New Orleans roster on March 17.

Winston is waiting to see what’s going to happen.

“Just continue working and that’s it,” Winston said of his offseason. “My future is in the Lord’s hands anyway, so I’m just going to continue to be the best me.”

A two-time All-State selection at Hueytown, Winston was the Class 5A Back of the Year and a Parade and Under Armour All-American in 2011.

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At Florida State, Winston won the Heisman Trophy in 2013, when the Seminoles won the BCS national championship with an undefeated record.

The No. 1 selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston spent five seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting QB. But after Winston led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards and 30 interceptions, the Bucs switched to Tom Brady, and Winston wound up backing up Drew Brees with the Saints in 2020 before winning a competition with Taysom Hill for the starting spot in 2021.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.