Payton said the Saints are leaning toward staying in the Dallas area for the next several weeks until they are able to return home following the destruction of Hurricane Ida.
It is unclear whether the game could be played on a different date at AT&T Stadium or if a different stadium would have to host the game.
That could make it difficult for New Orleans to host its opening game, in addition to the staffing and security that will be required.
Payton said the team initially considered Oxnard, California, where the Cowboys regularly host their training camp and where the Saints spent a week during training camp in 2011.
Payton said an indoor practice space is also a priority.
On Monday, Saints owner Gayle Benson announced an initial donation of $1 million to support those impacted by the storm in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
And we feel like he’s got a unique skill set with his arm talent — boy, he can get the ball down the field,” Payton said.
Payton said he heard a lot of speculation that if the Saints chose Hill as their quarterback, they wouldn’t be able to keep using him in his versatile QB/RB/TE/WR role.
Payton said he had a “real good dialogue” with Hill, even though he knows it was “challenging and disappointing” for him to lose out on the starting QB job.