Saints Lose Centers Nick Leckey, Alex Fletcher

(Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Sean Payton announced today in his press conference that the team has placed undrafted rookie center Alex Fletcher on the reserved/retired list due to a life-threatening kidney issue.

The complete details of the problem are unkown, but apparently Fletcher is already down one kidney while the other is in serious enough condition to possibly end the Stanford product’s professional career before it ever starts.

“Unfortunately, Alex will not be able to continue to play because of the medical issue,” Payton said. “He has one kidney and the one kidney he has needs some work. It’s pretty serious. He was upset and disappointed when we talked but he knows that he has to get this thing better.

Meanwhile, former Ram center Nick Leckey, whom the team signed this off season, had surgery on his right ankle to remove bone spurs.

Leckey will miss the remainder of the teams OTA’s but is expected to be healed in time to fully participate in the upcoming training camp.

Leckey and Fletcher were brought in to compete with Johnathan Goodwin for the starting center role—one of the Saints most pressing needs.

To replace Fletcher New Orleans signed Digger Bujnoch(6′5 285), a former University of Cincinnati starter at center and Giant practice squad player to the roster.

Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish

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