Saints optimistic Kool-Aid McKinstry will be ready for Week 1

New Orleans Saints rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry is expected to be healthy and ready for the Saints’ regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers. This tracks with Dennis Allen’s initial update in the postgame press conference.

The Saints still had to put McKinstry through the medical process to be certain, and per Jordan Shultz’ report for Bleacher Report, McKinstry passed those tests. The rookie left the San Francisco 49ers game early with a leg injury sustained during the first play of their second drive. A San Francisco wide receiver inadvertently rolled up on McKinstry’s leg while the rookie corner was defending him.

Despite his appeals to the training staff on the sideline, McKinstry never returned to the game. Luckily, it appears to have been a minor injury. He may or may not be available for the final preseason game with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Aug. 25, but most importantly the expectation is he’ll be ready for the season opener in two weeks.

The Saints couldn’t afford another injury to that room. Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo are still nursing injuries. There’s hope that both starters will be ready for the season. Right now, Adebo feels more optimistic seeing that he’s been working out with trainers on the sidelines more and more frequently.