INDIANAPOLIS – It appears the Colts avoided a potential disastrous injury situation with their most important player.
While left tackle Anthony Castonzo left Sunday’s game in the first half with a knee injury, the Colts do not believe it’s in the ‘season-ending’ category.
“I don’t think it’s the worse-case scenario,” Frank Reich said of Castonzo’s right knee injury. “That’s all I know for right now. I’m not feeling like that’s the case.”
Joel Erickson of the IndyStar first reported an MCL injury for Castonzo, with an MRI coming.
Such an injury should not be season-ending though. Depending on the severity and whether Castonzo can play with a brace on his injured right knee, his absence might not be too long.
The Colts have 5 games remaining in the regular season.
Back in the offseason, we noted how Castonzo is the most indispensable player on the Colts roster.
The drop off from his high-level of play to what the Colts have as a backup left tackle is immense.
We saw it again on Sunday.
Castonzo played the first two drives of the game and the offense did this:
-12 plays 75 yards, touchdown
-6 plays, 66 yards, touchdown
When Castonzo got hit in his right knee on a 1-yard Jacoby Brissett sneak early in the second quarter, it was no surprise how the offense then performed.
The Colts didn’t score on their next 7 drives, without Castonzo, with 15 yards being the most gained on any of those series.
Yes, Castonzo means that much to the Colts.
In his 10-year career, Castonzo has missed 13 total games. The Colts are 2-11 in those games, including a 32-23 loss to the Browns earlier this year.
Backup Le’Raven Clark subbed in for Castonzo on Sunday and finished the game at left tackle. As expected, there were some shaky moments for Clark.
Giving Clark more help than you would if Castonzo was in there is a must, and that hinders the Colts offense.
Some more good news for the Colts?
In the next 3 games, they’ll play the Texans (14th in sacks per pass attempt), Raiders (31st in sacks per pass attempt) and Texans (14th in sacks per pass attempt).
