INDIANAPOLIS – It’s a good-looking injury report for the Colts in Sunday’s season opener.
Rookie safety Julian Blackmon (knee) is the only player ruled out by the Colts for this weekend. The other 52 players on the roster are healthy, and available to play.
What were the takeaways from the Colts final practice of the week?
-First, how great was the fog shield by Andy Reid on Thursday night? Well, Frank Reich will be bringing one to Jacksonville this weekend, along with several other face coverings. Reich will spend pre-game testing out whether to go with the shield, facemask, gator, etc. look on the sideline. The head coach mentioned the 90-degree heat will certainly impact his decision on what to have in front of his face when calling plays.
-With this current offensive line group, it’s not often you see 3 of the 5 starters either not practicing or limited for multiple practice days during the week. Anthony Castonzo (oblique), Ryan Kelly (knee) and Quenton Nelson (back) all appeared on the injury report this week, but all will play this Sunday, according to Frank Reich. Despite that, this week was another reminder of how vital the offensive line depth will inevitably be in 2020.
-Rookie safety Julian Blackmon has now practiced for two weeks, but he won’t be making his NFL debut on Sunday. Blackmon, who tore his ACL last December, was a ‘limited’ participant all week long in practice. The Colts have made it clear they will be very patient with Blackmon, before sending him onto the playing field.
-Mike McGlynn, Vick Ballard, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Kelvin Sheppard, Aubrayo Franklin. Those are 5 of the Colts starters the last time they won a season opener. Heavens. Yep, it was 2013—in a 21-17 win over the Terrelle Pryor-led Raiders—when the Colts last started a season 1-0. Indianapolis hasn’t won a road season opener since 2006 (0-7 in that span on the road) and hasn’t won in Jacksonville since 2014.
-The Colts are a 7.5-point road favorite against the Jaguars in Week 1. That marks the second highest road favorite the Colts have been in the last decade. Clearly, this shows everyone what people think of the Jaguars this season, and the Colts in 2020, and a lack of a homefield advantage.
-We talked about it earlier this offseason—the time is now for the Colts to prove it without Andrew Luck under center (since 2017, they are 11-21 in games without Luck). With 7 teams making the playoffs in 2020, that means nearly half of each conference will be in the postseason this year. In Vegas, the Colts are the favorite to capture the AFC South for the first time in 2014.
-Remember, the Colts can call up two practice squad players this weekend, meaning teams can dress 48 of 55 guys each week this season (it was 46 of 53 in years past).
-The Colts will have a walk-through on Saturday morning before boarding a plan that afternoon to Jacksonville, with Sunday’s season opener kicking at 1:00.
FINAL Injury Report
-OUT: S-Julian Blackmon (knee)
Bowen Analysis: Again, no surprise to see Blackmon not playing in Week 1. The Colts are going to be uber cautious with their rookie coming off ACL surgery some 9 months ago. Blackmon has yet to fully participate in a practice this season.
–QUESTIONABLE: LB-Matthew Adams (ankle)
Bowen Analysis: Adams was a full participant in Friday’s practice.
The following players were on the injury report earlier this week, but are good to go for Sunday: LT-Anthony Castonzo (oblique), DE-Justin Houston (calf), C-Ryan Kelly (knee), WR-Dezmon Patmon (knee).
