BT Boylan | SI
After missing the Saints Week 1 matchup against Tampa Bay, the 24th overall selection of the 2020 NFL draft is expected to make his NFL debut on Monday. OL Cesar Ruiz has battled an ankle injury that kept him from taking the field last Sunday but he was a full participant in practice Friday. Saints Head Coach Sean Payton confirmed his full return to practice and is excited to have Ruiz back.
"He went through everything. We had a couple guys like that and he's feeling a lot better and obviously a guy that we're excited about getting back into the swing of things. He's someone that we thought had a real good camp. So, it was good to see him back out there."
- Sean Payton on Cesar Ruiz's return to practice
The Saints' first-round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft “was not drafted to be a backup.” According to Pro Football Focus, Ruiz was considered the nation’s best-blocking center in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruiz has practiced at both center and right guard during Saints Training Camp. Erik McCoy, who started 16 games at center last season, was the Saints starter at C in Week 1 with Nick Easton playing at RG. Ruiz will continue to "work at both spots," according to Head Coach Sean Payton. ...
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