Canal Street Chronicles
This week, the New Orleans Saints return from their bye week as they prepare to face the rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season. With the offensive line missing its heart and soul while center Erik McCoy recovers from a season-ending torn bicep, the player to watch has stepped up in a big way amid his absence: C Luke Fortner.
It’s no secret that everything runs through McCoy on the Saints’ offensive line, as we’ve seen how poor the unit has performed without the two-time Pro Bowler on the field.
After suffering a groin injury that required surgery just three snaps into Week 3’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, the 28-year-old appeared in only seven games for New Orleans during the 2024–25 season.
This prompted the team to trade veteran DT Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason for some depth at center, receiving Luke Fortner in return. It’s worth noting that Saunders was recently waived by Jacksonville and signed with the New York Jets on Monday. Meanwhile, Fortner has filled in seamlessly for McCoy, making the move look even better in hindsight for the Saints.
Through three starts this season, Fortner has yet to allow a sack and has given up just two pressures on 119 pass-blocking snaps, while posting a career-high 76.2 overall grade for the season—including an 82.7 pass-blocking grade. The 27-year-old has been an essential addition for the Saints, and if he can put together another strong performance against the Falcons—who are currently on a five-game losing streak—it would further bolster New Orleans’ chances of leaving the Superdome victorious.
