The New Orleans Saints‘ playoff hopes have all but slipped away, with the team sitting three games out of a wildcard spot in the NFC. But while their postseason dreams may be fading, there’s a bit of good news on the horizon: starting center Erik McCoy is set to return to the lineup for the Saints’ crucial Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.
McCoy has been on injured reserve since Week 3 after suffering a groin injury just a few snaps into the team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 26-year-old underwent surgery and was expected to miss a significant portion of the season. But after a long recovery process, McCoy has worked his way back to health and is now ready to rejoin the starting unit.
The Impact of McCoy’s Return
McCoy’s return is a welcomed sight for an offensive line that has faced its fair share of struggles in his absence. The Saints’ offensive line has been a patchwork unit throughout the season, with rookie and unproven players having to step up as fill-ins. This instability has come at a time when the team has already been dealing with injuries to key skill players like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. To make matters worse, the offensive line lost star tackle Ryan Ramczyk for the season, leaving only Cesar Ruiz—a holdover from the Drew Brees and Sean Payton era—as the lone experienced starter.
However, interim head coach Darren Rizzi is confident McCoy will be ready to take the reins once again. In a recent press conference, Rizzi said, “Should be good to go. I thought we did the right thing here the last couple of weeks with his volume in practice, amped it up a little bit every day, and he looks like he’s ready to go. Unless we have a setback between now and Sunday, I imagine he’d be in there.”
For a team that’s struggled to maintain offensive consistency all season, McCoy’s return could be a major boost. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as the Saints continue to navigate a turbulent season. It also provides some stability to a line that has had to shuffle multiple bodies around, including making the difficult decision to cut fill-in center Connor McGovern earlier this week.
McCoy’s Journey and What He Brings to the Table
The Saints selected McCoy in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and since then, he’s been a fixture on the offensive line. McCoy has started every game for the Saints in which he’s been healthy, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s more reliable centers.
While McCoy’s first couple of seasons were marred by injuries—he missed a combined nine games in 2021 and 2022—he bounced back in 2023 with an ironman campaign, playing all 17 games and earning his first career Pro Bowl selection. His return to the lineup gives the Saints’ offensive line some much-needed continuity, especially with the uncertainty that has plagued the position for much of the season.
Even with New Orleans’ playoff chances looking slim, McCoy’s presence could help stabilize the offense for the final stretch. He’ll be tasked with protecting veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who has had to play behind a banged-up and inexperienced line. Carr has been relatively solid in his return from an oblique injury, but having McCoy back should provide him with better protection in the pocket.
Will McCoy’s Return Spark a Late Surge?
While New Orleans’ season might be circling the drain, it’s still possible that McCoy’s return could help spark a late-season surge. A win against Cleveland could keep the team’s hopes alive, even if their playoff chances are slim. The Saints’ offense has been hampered by injuries and inconsistent play all year, and while McCoy isn’t a cure-all, his return certainly gives them a fighting chance.
With the focus now shifting to the final stretch of the regular season, New Orleans is hoping that McCoy’s leadership on the field, combined with his ability to lock down the center position, can provide the spark needed for an offense that’s been far too inconsistent to make a serious run.
As McCoy prepares to take the field for the first time since Week 3, all eyes will be on him—and on how much of an impact his presence can make as the Saints try to salvage what’s left of their season.
