Sunday Night NFL: Kool-Aid McKinstry leaves the New Orleans Saints team early due to injury

New Orleans Saints cornerback Ga'Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry is once again struggling with an injury.

Medical examinations at the NFL Scouting Combine in February revealed that McKinstry had a Jones fracture that required surgery on his right foot.

That didn't stop the Saints from selecting McKinstry in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 27, but it did prevent him from seeing much on-field action during New Orleans' offseason program. However, McKinstry was ready when the Saints opened training camp in Irvine, Calif., and he was on the field for 38 defensive snaps and seven special teams plays in New Orleans' 16-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason opener on Aug. 10.

After starting Sunday night's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, McKinstry went to the sideline medical tent after five snaps after colliding with wide receiver Trent Taylor on an incomplete pass. McKinstry ran a bit and rode a stationary bike on the sideline before heading to the locker room.

“He has a knee injury,” New Orleans coach Dennis Allen said after the game. “I think we avoided anything serious. How long it will last now, I don't know. But I think we came out of the game without any major injuries, at least according to the initial report.”

McKinstry was named Mr. Football and Class 6A Back of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association while playing for Pinson Valley High School in 2020, when the Indians won their third AHSAA Class 6A championship in four seasons.

McKinstry was selected to the 2023 Alabama All-American first team by The Associated Press and The Sporting News.

The 49ers defeated the Saints 16-10 when the San Francisco defense stopped a snap on fourth-and-7 at their 22-yard line with 1:39 left.

In Sunday night's other NFL preseason game, the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 27-2, with former Auburn quarterbacks Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham each scoring a touchdown.

In the two games on Sunday evening, 17 players from high schools and colleges in Alabama were on the field:

San Francisco 49ers 16, New Orleans Saints 10

· Saints offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the injured list and is ineligible to play.

· Forty-Niners defensive lineman Shakel Brown (Troy) made a tackle and intercepted a pass.

· Chris Hubbard (UAB), offensive tackle for the Forty-Niners, did not record any statistics.

· Forty-Niners tight end Cameron Latu (Alabama) had three pass catches for over 30 yards.

· Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) recorded three tackles on defense, made one tackle on special teams and defended a pass.

· Ga'Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley, Alabama) started for the Saints. McKinstry did not record any statistics before leaving due to injury.

· Saints linebacker Monty Rice (James Clemens) did not play.

· Forty-Niners defensive end Nick Williams (minor, Samford) made a tackle. Williams left the game with a knee injury after signing with San Francisco on Wednesday.

Denver Broncos 27, Green Bay Packers 2

· Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) made three tackles and broke up a pass.

· Angelo Blackson (Auburn), Broncos defensive tackle, made two tackles.

· Packers kicker Anders Carlson (Auburn) was denied a field goal or extra point. Greg Joseph missed a 47-yard field goal attempt for Green Bay.

· Packers wide receiver Grant DuBose (Park Crossing) was targeted twice but failed to catch a pass. DuBose made one tackle on special teams.

· Packers running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) did not play.

· Packers safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama) did not play.

· Bo Nix (Pinson Valley, Auburn) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and ran three times for 12 yards. Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tim Patrick as Denver took a 10-0 lead with 13:14 left in the first half.

· Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) is on active duty/physically unable to play and is ineligible to play. Sanders tore his Achilles tendon during offseason training.

· Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) did not record any statistics.

· Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) completed 7 of 11 passes for 65 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran 9 yards for a touchdown as Denver took a 17-0 lead with 30 seconds left in the first half.

· Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made one tackle.

· Kadeem Telfort (UAB) started at right tackle for the Packers.

· Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace (Alabama) did not play.

· Packers wide receiver Jalen Wayne (Spanish Fort, South Alabama) had an 8-yard reception.

· Colby Wooden (Auburn) started as a defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made three tackles.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.