Source – Saints’ Eric McCoy needs hip surgery, will miss time

NEW ORLEANS — Saints quarterback Eric McCoy is expected to undergo hip surgery this week and will miss some time, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

The NFL Network was first to report that McCoy, a team captain and 2023 Pro Bowl selection, needs surgery and could be out for six to eight weeks.

This is the second major loss for the Saints’ offensive line this season. New Orleans entered the season without right back Ryan Ramcyk, who was placed on the injured reserve list prior to training camp with major knee issues.

McCoy exited Sunday’s game after just three snaps in a 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He went first to the injury tent, then to the locker room and did not return to the game. The Saints had their worst offensive performance and worst offensive performance of the season against the Eagles.

“Losing a guy like Eric hurts,” Saints quarterback Derek Carr said after the game. “He’s a leader and a captain for our football team, so it hurts. But football, these things happen all the time. It’s the next guy. You have to be able to get back to your normal level and the expectations don’t change.”

The Saints moved left guard Lucas Patrick, who was added as a free agent this offseason, to take McCoy’s spot after he left the game. Olisemeka Oddo, who was also added as a free agent this year, came off the bench to replace Patrick.

“Nobody wants to see a Pro Bowl quarterback go down,” coach Dennis Allen said Monday. “That’s a challenge and everybody in the NFL has to face those challenges. We expect our guys to be able to go in there and perform, and I thought Lucas Patrick did a good job of filling in for Eric. It was a challenge but it wasn’t the difference in the game.”

Patrick is officially listed as McCoy’s replacement on the depth chart and has a wealth of experience at the position from his previous time with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

Practice squad offensive lineman Shane Lemieux started the third preseason game at that spot. The Saints promoted Josh Andrews from the practice squad when McCoy missed four games with an injury in 2022 and moved right guard Cesar Ruiz to center when McCoy missed time at the start of the 2021 season.