New Orleans Saints

Kool-Aid McKinstry

CB

McKinstry left Thursday's practice early after tweaking his ankle, though it was a precautionary move by the Saints. The third-year cornerback was back on the field Sunday, though he did not participate in the final team drill of practice. Still, it appears McKinstry is past the injury and should be an active participant in practices moving forward.

Nathan Shepherd

DT

Bresee is feared to have torn his ACL during practice earlier in the week, which would leave a big hole on New Orleans' defensive front. The veteran Shepherd is an obvious contender to take a large chunk of the snaps left behind, although he'll have to compete with John Ridgeway, 2024 sixth-rounder Khristian Boyd and 2025 third-rounder Vernon Broughton, among others.

Vernon Broughton

DT

Broughton was a third-round selection of the Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his rookie campaign was cut short by a season-ending hip injury that he sustained in Week 1 against the 49ers in September. He's fully healthy for the start of training camp, and he has the opportunity to earn a starting role at defensive end opposite Cameron Jordan if Bryan Bresee (knee) is sidelined for the entire 2026 season.

Kelvin Banks Jr.

OT

Banks was a first-round selection of the Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft and started in all 17 regular-season games last year. He suffered an ankle injury during the Saints' regular-season finale against the Falcons in early January, but he is fully healthy for the start of training camp. Banks figures to keep his starting role at left tackle for the 2026 campaign.

Bryan Bresee

DT

It's a brutal blow for Bresee, who has played in 46 of 48 possible regular-season games since being selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. An ACL repair procedure typically carries a nine-month recovery timeline, so Bresee should be available for the 2027 season, which is the final year of his rookie contract. John Ridgeway figures to step into a starting role at defensive end opposite veteran Cameron Jordan, while Michael Heldman, Vernon Broughton and Tyree Wilson compete for rotational snaps.