SAINTS INJURY UPDATE! How the Saints could replace Erik McCoy following his…
SAINTS INJURY UPDATE! How the Saints could replace Erik McCoy following his…
The New Orleans Saints’ starting center and captain Erik McCoy will be out six to eight weeks with a groin injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. McCoy will likely require surgery from the injury he suffered in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Now the Saints’ offense must find a way to survive without its best offensive lineman.
Starting left guard Lucas Patrick filled in for McCoy after the Pro Bowl center exited the game early in the first quarter. Oli Udoh took over left guard duties for the remainder of the game.
“I thought Lucas Patrick did a nice job going in and filling in Erik’s spot,” New Orleans coach Dennis Allen said Monday. “I mean, it was a challenge for us, but that wasn’t the difference in the game.”
Now it’s a matter of finding Patrick’s replacement at left guard while he plays center. When Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak held the same role for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, Udoh started at right guard for the entire season. Udoh spent the majority of training camp competing with Trevor Penning for the starting right tackle spot. He should be the favorite to serve as the left guard stop gap.
Nick Saldiveri entered training camp as the starting left guard before an injury gave Patrick the chance to take it. The second-year guard could get that spot back now after owning it all throughout OTAs. Landon Young is another option. He took reps at left guard in training camp and in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers when the starters came out.
He wouldn’t start, but don’t be shocked if the team promotes undrafted free agent Kyle Hergel from the practice squad. He was one of the more surprising cuts from the 53-man roster after an impressive training camp. He even took first-team reps at left guard late in training camp following an injury to Patrick (also relevant that Saldiveri didn’t practice that day).
A six-to-eight week time frame is an awkward duration: It’s clearly detrimental to the team, but not long enough that New Orleans would likely trade for someone to play either left guard or center. It could sign someone such as Mason Cole, who started seven games at center for the Vikings in 2021 when Kubiak was there. Cole started at center for the Pittsburgh Steelers during each of the past two seasons.
The offensive line already was the weak point of the Saints’ roster, most notably at right tackle with Penning’s struggles. New Orleans ran for 89 yards in Week 3 after combining for 370 in the first two games. Allen thinks it was due to Philadelphia’s defensive scheme, but McCoy’s absence was felt. Now either Udoh, Young or Saldiveri will likely have to step up and help with the damage control.
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