Is there more to worry about than just Erik McCoy's injury?

Good morning, and welcome to the Thursday, Sept. 26 edition of the Saints Insider newsletter.

It's Falcons week a.k.a. hate week in New Orleans. This is always a fun time as the bi-annual rivalry is renewed in Atlanta. Let's dive into our lineup of stories:

Battered and bruised

The Saints stayed relatively healthy during the first two weeks of the season. So much for that.

Several key players were listed on the team's injury report and missed practice on Wednesday. Luke Johnson has the list of walking wounded, and it includes some of the biggest names on the roster.

The McCoy fallout

Erik McCoy's injury has created a domino effect on the offensive line. Matt Paras looks at how the Saints are attempting to adjust to his absence at center.

Columnist Rod Walker calls Erik McCoy "the glue" of the Saints' offense and weighs in on what the loss of the Pro Bowl center means for the team going forward.

Welcome to the NFL

Rookie defensive tackle Khristian Boyd has experienced a number of firsts during the three-game start to his NFL career. Wednesday he experienced another first: A hefty fine for his hit on Eagles receiver DaVonta Smith.

The best of the best

This week's installment of my "25 for 25" series was a fun one: Best Teams I've Covered. My pick for No. 1 might surprise you.

That's it for today. We'll have more news and analysis in the days ahead as the Saints ramp up preparations for their game against the archrival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. 

Until next time, have a great day....

Jeff Duncan