Erik

McCoy

Per OverTheCap, the Saints are still more than $46 million over the cap but the team’s star center is willing to do his part, presumably in exchange for a nice bonus. McCoy is coming off an injury-dampened season, having dealt with both groin and shoulder issues. However, he should be good to go for 2025.

The good news, Rizzi offered, is that McCoy avoided major injury and won’t need surgery. McCoy started just seven games this year while dealing with a recurring groin injury, but he was wildly successful when he did play, notching a 94.2 PFF grade in 293 snaps. He left Week 16’s game after just seven plays and did not return. McCoy enters his age-28 season in 2025 as the likely starter for the Saints at center, carrying a $16.38 million cap figure that could be adjusted if the Saints want to continue to push money into future years.

McCoy did not play off the questionable line in Week 13 and has been hampered by the groin injury all season, as he aggravated the initial groin injury that sent him to injured reserve upon his return to the lineup. It would be a big boost for the Saints if they could get him back for Week 14. The Saints should run all over the Giants regardless of who their starting center is, though.

Williams entered the weekend questionable but is expected to play. He is the clear backup running back and should remain off fantasy radars. Saints declared QB Spencer Rattler, RB Jordan Mims, LB Jaylan Ford, OL Lucas Patrick, C Erik McCoy, WR Mason Tipton, and DT Khristian Boyd inactive for Week 13 against the Rams. Patrick and McCoy are out due to ankle and groin injuries, respectively. Their absences leave the Saints offensive line weaker against the Rams.

McCoy initially suffered the groin injury in Week 3. He spent two months on the sidelines before returning in Week 11, only to immediately aggravate the issue. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi said he was going to be okay but didn’t put a timeline on the injury. McCoy didn’t practice at all this week before being listed as questionable. The Saints are giving him the weekend to test things out, though three straight DNPs puts him on the wrong side of questionable for now. Fellow interior offensive lineman Lucas Patrick has already been ruled out.

“Went through a lot of tests last night and this morning,” Rizzi told reporters. McCoy re-aggravated the injury in the first half of Week 11’s game against the Browns after missing two months with it. The Saints are on bye this week.

McCoy has been sidelined since Week 3 because of the groin injury. He underwent surgery and was placed on injured reserve shortly after going down with the injury. McCoy returned to practice last week but was listed as doubtful. The Saints listed him as questionable this time around after the veteran lineman got in a full practice on Friday. He is good to go for Week 11.

McCoy went down in Week 3 against the Eagles with a groin injury that will require surgery in the coming days. McCoy, a key piece of an already-struggling New Orleans offensive line, will be sidelined until at least early November, maybe longer. The Saints struggled to protect Derek Carr last week against a tough Eagles pass rush. Carr was pressured on 44 percent of his Week 3 drop backs.

McCoy went down during the Saints’ first drive. He walked off the field gingerly before heading to the locker room. Left guard Lucas Patrick has moved to center and backup guard Oli Udoh took Patrick’s spot in the lineup.

The offseason can’t officially begin until the Saints begin their salary cap gymnastics to get below the cap. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Saints converted McCoy’s salary and roster bonus to free up a whopping $7.18 million in cap space. McCoy earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after starting all 17 games for the Saints while earning a PFF blocking grade of 79.4. McCoy is one of many players the Saints will be restructuring in the coming days/weeks, as they entered the offseason roughly $83.6 million over the cap.