NEW ORLEANS -- Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie sprained his right knee Sunday while attempting to recover a fumble on a wild play in the first quarter of New Orleans' game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
McKenzie walked on his own to the locker room for treatment, but Saints officials said his return was doubtful.
McKenzie hurt himself trying to recover a fumble that ended in an Eagles touchdown.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb found open field while running a bootleg on third-and short and gained 40 yards before Saints safety Josh Bullocks punched the ball out of McNabb's grasp at the 24-yard line. McKenzie was the first to get to the loose ball and attempted to fall on it at the 2, but the ball squirted into the end zone, where receiver Kevin Curtis recovered for Philadelphia.
McKenzie quickly got up to give chase when the ball got away, but then went down on both knees in the back of the end zone, remaining there for several minutes before walking gingerly to the sideline.
The Saints also had to play the second half without leading receiver Marques Colston. Team officials said he had a chest contusion and would not return.
Saints starting running back Aaron Stecker appeared to injure his left leg and was carted to the locker room during the second quarter, but returned in the third quarter.
New Orleans needed Stecker back because reserve running back Jamaal Branch was knocked out of the game with a broken leg on a special teams play in the first half.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
