Kool-Aid McKinstry will not work out at the NFL Combine due to a Jones fracture

Kool-Aid McKinstry, a highly ranked Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback, will miss the NFL Combine on Friday due to a right foot ailment.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, famed Alabama Crimson Tide CB Kool-Aid McKinstry will not be joining the defensive backs for on-field workouts at the NFL Combine later today at 2 p.m. CT due to a newly discovered Jones fracture.

“During an NFL Combine medical evaluation, doctors found that Bama All-American CB Kool-Aid McKinstry has a Jones fracture in his right foot, sources say,” Rapoport said in his report. “McKinstry will not work out in Indianapolis, but will instead do so during his Pro Day and then have it mended. He should be 100 percent before training camp.”

Dr. Jesse Morse, a well-known Sports and Family Medicine physician, discussed the circumstances around the relatively unknown injury on X.

“A Jones fracture is a fracture of the 5th metatarsal towards the middle of the foot,” Morse explains in his article. “These are not uncommon and always require surgery (because to an extremely weak blood supply, which prevents them from recovering). Some players, as in this case, are unaware that they have them because they are accustomed to the soreness on that side of their foot and simply cope. The refracture rate following surgery (screw placement) is low, and most players do well with them, sometimes having the screw removed in the future.”

McKinstry shone for the Crimson Tide this season, finishing second on the team behind fellow NFL Draft hopeful Terrion Arnold with seven pass breakups. He also recorded 32 tackles. His stats fell somewhat from 2022 to 2023, as opposing quarterbacks threw less at him after an outstanding sophomore season. Nonetheless, McKinstry was awarded an Associated Press All-American.

In most mock drafts, McKinstry has been projected as a mid-to-late first-round or early second-round choice. A successful exercise later today could have significantly improved his chances of getting selected on Day 1. Nonetheless, Alabama will now have only safety Jaylen Key and the aforementioned Arnold participating in Friday’s on-field exercises, which begin at 2 p.m. CT on NFL Network.