The New Orleans Saints have waived center Connor McGovern, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. This move likely aims to clear a roster spot for Erik McCoy, who was designated for return from injured reserve last week.
McGovern joined the Saints’ roster in early October after being signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad. His arrival came as the Saints dealt with a string of injuries to their offensive line, including a groin injury that sidelined McCoy and required surgery. When Shane Lemieux landed on IR after Week 4, the team found themselves in need of additional depth at center until McCoy was ready to play again.
In Week 5, Lucas Patrick initially took over at center, but he was moved back to left guard mid-game following an injury to Nick Saldivieri. McGovern stepped in to finish the game at center and subsequently started the following five games. During this period, McGovern performed consistently, recording only eight pressures allowed and no sacks over 369 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
With Lemieux returning from IR last week and McCoy nearing a full recovery, the Saints felt ready to move on from McGovern. Since he was released after the trade deadline, he will be subject to waivers, and any NFL team can claim him. Given his experience and strong performance, McGovern could attract attention from teams needing extra depth at center. If he clears waivers, he’ll be eligible to sign with any team’s active roster or practice squad.
Following a challenging start to the season, the Saints recently recorded their third win after parting ways with head coach Dennis Allen. The return of McCoy is expected to bolster the protection in front of quarterback Derek Carr. However, with key receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave currently on injured reserve, the Saints’ offensive potential remains limited. While they scored 91 points across their first two games, they’ve managed only 17 points per game on average since then, underscoring the offense’s struggles amidst multiple injuries and changes.
