Notable Colts injury updates to monitor ahead of their Week 16 Monday Night Football matchup with the 49ers
The Colts have multiple key players dealing with injuries that could impact the team’s Week 16 matchup with the 49ers.
The Indianapolis Colts are on a four-game losing streak, which has made a once-magical season now look like a train wreck. Their playoff hopes are on life support. Their only realistic shot at the postseason would be if they win out, but even that doesn’t guarantee them a spot.
Each game left is a must-win for the Colts, and that starts with their Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 8-6 Colts are set to host the 10-4 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Something important to watch this week will be key players battling injuries. The hope is that they can get multiple top players back on the field, thereby improving their odds.
Colts’ key players with injuries worth monitoring this week
- Sauce Gardner, CB – Calf
- Anthony Gould, WR – Foot
- Bernhard Raimann, LT – Elbow
- DeForest Buckner, DT – Neck (IR)
- Anthony Richardson, QB – Eye (IR)
On the defense, the Colts are without their top two players in DeForest Buckner and Saude Gardner. Buckner is on the IR and would have to be activated to the active roster before he can be made active for gameday. Gardner suffered a calf injury in the Colts’ loss to the Houston Texans and has now missed two additional games. He has not practiced since the injury, so returning would likely require at least two days of practice this week.
Offensively, the Colts saw starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann leave the loss to the Seattle Seahawks early. The team is already down right tackle Braden Smith for the rest of the regular season, so if Raimann can’t play this week, it would be pretty back-breaking. Especially with Philip Rivers set to make his second start since he isn’t likely to leave the pocket at any point.
Lastly, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Colts choose to activate Anthony Richardson from IR this week. He hasn’t practiced since an eye injury landed him on the IR, but he has officially been medically cleared to return.
It would be intriguing to see Richardson make his return to the field. Rivers has been announced as the starter for now, but a healthy Richardson certainly gives the Colts a better chance to win.
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