The New Orleans Saints received troubling news that their two time Pro Bowl center, Erik McCoy suffered a season ending torn triceps injury in their week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The loss is a major blow to an offensive line that has already battled inconsistency throughout the season.
McCoy was having a solid start to the season. Through seven games, he had an overall 67.2 PFF grade, ranking first in pass blocking with an impressive 83.1, but only 28th in run blocking at 61.7.
Although his injury is a big blow, the squad must move on, as he will be replaced with Luke Fortner, who will look to fill the void and keep the offensive line steady for the remainder of the season. He’s ready to step up and prove himself on the big stage.
Saints turn to Fortner to anchor the middle
The Saints traded for Fortner during the 2025 preseason, he was brought in as a versatile and durable depth piece that could be plugged anywhere on the offensive if needed. Now in his fourth season, he has played in every game of his career and is a former two year starter with Jaguars.
Fortner's experience and reliability make him a valuable asset as the Saints adjust to life without McCoy. The coaching staff believes that he can step in and maintain stability in the middle of the line The Saints saw this story last year and brought in Fortner for this exact reason.
The Saints viewed other options such as Torricelli Simpkins and Cesar Ruiz before ultimately deciding to roll with Fortner. Simpkins a young and athletic lineman, has shown promise in limited snaps but doesn’t quite have the experience to handle full time duties at center. If anything happens to Fortner or he just underperforms, Simpkins is likely the next man up.
Ruiz, primarily a guard, has past experience at the position, but the coaching staff preferred to keep him at his natural spot on the interior. Ruiz always felt like a longshot. Moving him would essentially disrupt two positions. While he was getting reacclimated to center, there would be someone trying to supplant Ruiz.
Ultimately, Fortner gives you a blend of experience and ease. McCoy was one of the best in the business, and arguably the most important cog in the offensive line machine. Fortner will have not just big shoes to fill but important ones as well.