While New Orleans Saints center Erik McCoy is one of the league’s top players at his position when healthy, the past couple of seasons have begun to raise concerns about his ability to stay on the field. Given his importance to the operation of the offense, durability has become a legitimate question.
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McCoy suffered a torn bicep in the Saints’ Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears, which sidelined him for the remainder of his seventh professional campaign—one that got off to a promising start. McCoy was the highest-graded pass protector among all centers, earning an 83.2 pass-blocking grade on 276 snaps through seven games, according to Pro Football Focus. He had allowed only three total pressures and no sacks.
2025 marked the second straight season that the 28-year-old has appeared in just seven games for New Orleans. In 2024, he suffered a groin injury just three plays into the Saints’ Week 3 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing him to miss an extended period of time on injured reserve.
New Orleans has several players in the building with experience across multiple interior offensive line spots, but they still have not identified a clear backup for McCoy if he were to miss time again. One potential option could be shifting Cesar Ruiz back to his college position in an emergency scenario, especially after selecting Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as he could step in at right guard if needed. The Saints also have Torricelli Simpkins, who showed promise as an undrafted rookie last season and could potentially fill either role if called upon.
Should New Orleans be worried about McCoy’s recent injury struggles?
Nic Jennings
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