Speaking to reporters Monday, Saints coach Kellen Moore said “we anticipate Erik being out for a little bit,” and will manage McCoy on a “week-to-week” basis. Moore added that he does not anticipate McCoy’s injury will result in a “long-term” absence.

Considering that McCoy missed the final 10 weeks of last season with a torn left bicep, the news that he will not require a long-term absence was positive. Moore was unable to say whether McCoy injured the same bicep that he did a year ago.

When he has been on the field, McCoy has performed like one of the NFL’s better centers. The 2019 second-rounder made Pro Bowls after the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

But injuries have piled up in recent years. McCoy played in just seven games each of the last two seasons, and suffered this new bicep injury in the eighth game of the Saints’ 2026 season.

New Orleans has a couple options to replace McCoy in the starting lineup. More than likely, the Saints will follow the same script they did in Sunday’s win and play William Sherman in McCoy’s place.

But the Saints could also pivot and shift Cesar Ruiz inside to center, allowing 2026 fourth-rounder Jeremiah Wright to play at right guard. Ruiz played center at the University of Michigan and handled a few snaps during training camp.

Faced with a similar choice last season, the Saints opted to keep Ruiz at guard and insert Luke Fortner into the lineup at center, with the rationale being that they did not want a downgrade at two positions.