<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=006ufX_0vvpxNiU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=006ufX_0vvpxNiU00" width="1024" height="682" ></figure>Before he got the call that the New Orleans Saints were signing him to the active roster, Connor McGovern’s bags were already packed.McGovern thought he was headed to London as a member of the New York Jets’ practice squad for Sunday’s international game against the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive lineman was two hours away from boarding the team bus to get to the airport. And as his phone rang, McGovern was in the process of putting on his travel suit.Turns out, he’d need to bring a lot more with him.“I had to run back and repack and change my plane ticket,” McGovern said. “It was a hectic couple of hours there for sure. I was trying to make the last flight of Newark to New Orleans, and I was up against some time, but I made it.”McGovern’s mad dash may not be over, either. Days after signing with the Saints, the 31-year-old lineman could be called on to start at center for Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Shane Lemieux, last week’s starting center, was ruled out Saturday with an ankle injury. And Lemieux’s potential replacement, Lucas Patrick, is questionable after suffering a groin injury in practice that caused him to miss the last two games. The Saints, too, were already shorthanded at center with Erik McCoy recovering from groin surgery.McGovern has to get caught up to speed quickly, but he’s up for the task. One of the reasons that the Saints turned to McGovern is his familiarity with the team’s coaching staff. Saints offensive line coach John Benton worked with McGovern in New York, while offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and offensive assistant Rick Dennison were part of a Denver Broncos regime that drafted McGovern out of Missouri in 2017.McGovern is walking — or in this case, sprinting — to a place he already knows the offense.“I probably went through the whole range of emotions, the most being excitement,” McGovern said.Months earlier, McGovern had contemplated retiring from football. Last season, the former fourth rounder dislocated his left kneecap – his second serious knee injury a year apart. But McGovern rehabbed the injury to see how his knee would respond, and once it felt better, he was encouraged to keep playing.McGovern said the Saints originally showed interest during that time to gauge if he was in shape. Though they didn’t sign him, New Orleans kept him in mind in case injuries occurred. In the meantime, McGovern went back to the Jets – this time as a member of their practice squad.But practice squad players have the right to sign elsewhere, bringing McGovern to the Saints.“Very familiar with Connor,” Kubiak said. “He’s played a lot of football in this league. He’s very familiar with our style, our scheme, our verbiage. So if he gets an opportunity, I think he’ll do a great job.”When McGovern got on the plane to New Orleans, he said he finally had a moment to "think of everything” that had just occurred. He took a breath.“It definitely hit me ... how special this opportunity is,” McGovern said, “and how lucky I am to be here.”</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Connor McGovern's bags were already packed for a flight. And then the Saints called.

Before he got the call that the New Orleans Saints were signing him to the active roster, Connor McGovern’s bags were already packed. McGovern thought he was headed to London as a member of the New York Jets’ practice squad for Sunday’s international game against the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive lineman was two hours away from boarding the team bus to get to the airport. And as his phone rang, McGovern was in the process of putting on his travel suit.

Connor McGovern's bags were already packed for a flight. And then the Saints called.

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