INDIANAPOLIS – For a second straight game, the Colts will be without the guy who played the most defensive snaps of any player on the team last year.
That was the bad news on the Week Three injury report, but there’s some good news (especially compared to what the Jets report looks like).
What did we learn from the Colts’ final practice of the week?
- Jack Doyle is officially listed as ‘questionable’ for Week Three, but was a full participant in the final practice of the week. That’s a good sign for him, after he was limited on Thursday. Doyle missed last week’s win over the Vikings due to knee and ankle ailments. With Trey Burton (calf) still on IR for at least one more week, expect Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox to play important roles for a tight end group that will feel some brunt of needing to step up with the wideout trying to make up for the loss of Parris Campbell.
- The sudden stomach illness that arose for Rock Ya-Sin this past Sunday is going to force him to miss two games now. Ya-Sin didn’t practice all week. Asked specifically on Friday if Rock Ya-Sin had his appendix removed, Reich just said that the young corner had a ‘procedure’ done earlier this week. “He just had a procedure and I’m not really going to shed any more light on that, but we are optimistic that he’s healing quickly and will be back soon,” the head coach said of Ya-Sin. With Ya-Sin a surprise scratch last Sunday, the cornerback snaps were divided up like this: Kenny Moore (100 percent played), T.J. Carrie (74 percent played), Xavier Rhodes (52 percent played, left early due to cramps), Isaiah Rodgers (33 percent played). The Colts added CB-Tremon Smith (22 games of experience) to the active roster this week.
- When T.Y. Hilton lost that touchdown in the sun last week, it brought up the whole ‘open the roof’ debate again. Frank Reich said on Friday that ‘the big boss’ aka Jim Irsay is the decision maker on if the Lucas Oil Stadium roof is open or not. Reich said he occasionally drops a hint to Irsay on what to do with the roof, especially if the opposing QB might have a preference (cough, Peyton Manning with the Broncos in 2013). “I might say, ‘Here’s my reason why I would like the roof open if we are playing a quarterback that has a below average arm and it’s a little bit breezy, or if it’s a little bit cooler,’” Reich says. “Ask any quarterback, they would rather play in a closed dome. Factors like that, when they do come into play, which isn’t a whole lot, I do voice my opinion.” As far as Sunday is concerned, no announced decision yet on the roof, but a 4:05 PM kickoff should lead to a little better lighting than the normal 1:00 kicks in September.
- The Jets are officially down their starting running back (Le’Veon Bell), top three wideouts (Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman), starting right tackle (George Fant) on Sunday. Their starting center (Conner McGovern) appears to only be available in emergency duty. Former Colt Quincy Wilson (concussion) does appear to have a chance to play, but still needs to progress through the final steps of the protocol.
- Call it a coincidence, but the Colts 3 serious injuries two games into the season (RB-Marlon Mack, S-Malik Hooker, WR-Parris Campbell) have occurred at the exact first three positions they drafted in 2020 (WR-Michael Pittman, RB-Jonathan Taylor, S-Julian Blackmon). We knew the Colts would have to receive necessary contributions from Pittman and Taylor in 2020, but no one could have predicted how much and how early they would be needed, with Blackmon now thrown into that category, too.
- Whenever the Jets and Colts get together, you think back to the massive trade between the two franchises from March 2018. With the Jets moving up to the No. 3 pick, they took Sam Darnold and the Colts moving back to No. 6, while receiving a slew of selections. What did the Colts get? Quenton Nelson at No. 6 overall, Braden Smith at No. 37 overall, (after another trade back) they took Kemoko Turay at No. 59 overall and Jordan Wilkins at No. 160 overall. The haul was rounded out in 2019 with Rock Ya-Sin at No. 34 overall. At the time, the move made a whole lot of sense for both franchises, with the Jets needing a franchise quarterback, and the Colts wanting to bolster their depth. Some two years later, and it looks like the Colts were the clear winner in that move.
- The stat that has impressed me the most with the Colts defense early on? Allowing just 14.5 first downs per game (1st in the NFL). They are getting off the field at a much more efficient rate. It’s contributed to the 2nd best time of possession in the league through two weeks, with the offense not having a three-and-out also helping greatly in that area.
- Sunday will mark the 5th time since 2010 that the Colts have been a double-digit favorite (favored by 11.5 points currently over the Jets). They’ve covered 2 of those 5, losing outright to the Dolphins last season.
- Good news on more fans getting inside of Lucas Oil Stadium in future home games. Marion County Health Director Virginia Caine met the media on Friday and said the Colts/Vikings game ‘even exceed our expectations’ for how well things were run with 2,500 fans in attendance. Caine said as long as numbers continue to go in the right direction, and people follow protocols, then the capacity could rise, perhaps even to 15,000. The Colts have just one home game in the month of October (October 18th vs. Bengals).
- The Colts will have a final walk-thru on Saturday before their 4:05 PM kickoff on Sunday, in front of 7,500 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Final Injury Report
-OUT: CB-Rock Ya-Sin (illness), LB-Matthew Adams (ankle)
Bowen Analysis: Core special teamer LB-Matthew Adams (ankle) is going to miss multiple weeks after getting hurt covering a kick against the Vikings. Adams hadn’t played a defensive snap this season.
-QUESTIONABLE: TE-Jack Doyle (knee)
Bowen Analysis: Doyle was limited on Thursday, and full on Friday
The following players were on the injury report this week, but have since been removed: S-Julian Blackmon (knee), DT-DeForest Buckner (back)
