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Friday, March 29, 2024

Colts injuries piling up

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TAMPA – The Colts dropped to 0-4 for the first time since 1998 after losing to the Buccaneers in front of a sold out crowd at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay. Sadly for Indy, losses aren’t the only thing piling up.

Already dealing with significant injuries, the team lost several other key players in Monday night’s game making the team’s “next man up” motto more relevant than ever.

“Tonight was one of those nights. We had a lot of guys go down. What can you do?” Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said about the Colts’ latest injuries. “Its football, it’s the nature of our business and our game. The guys who get the call have to step up and play well.”

Late in the second quarter defensive tackle Eric Foster might have been lost for the season after dislocating his right ankle. First round pick offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo also suffered an ankle injury early in the game and second round pick offensive tackle Ben Ijalana left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. To make matters worse, third round pick defensive tackle Drake Nevis left the game with a lower back injury.

Indy entered the game without Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning (indefinitely), defensive captain Gary Brackett (season) and safety Melvin Bullett (season). As if that wasn’t enough now the coaching staff has to make adjustments for injuries to the defensive and offensive lines.

“You have to move some guys around and be able to hang in there. Sometimes it’s a difficult situation, but one you have to be able to do,” head coach Jim Caldwell said. “We talk about next man up. Somebody has to step up and fill in.”

Foster’s injury was gruesome and the most serious of all. An air cast was placed on his leg and he was carted off the field to a standing ovation after being down for quite some time. The nature of the injury shook players up from both teams and reminded all of the dangers of the sport.

“You never want to see some of the guys go down, especially Eric,” Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “It just shows everybody what the game of football is. However you want to pretty it up, it’s still a violent game and things happen.”

Although down, the team still has fight and spirit and continues to be very optimistic. The attitude of the coaching staff and around the locker room is that the season is far from over.

“All we can do is keep grinding. The season’s still not over and we’re not going to think it is over. We’re not going to play like it is over,” Freeney said. “We’re going to give 100 percent effort out there every single time – win, lose or draw.”

With the first quarter of the season over and 12 games left to play, team goals remain the same and their focus is on getting healthy, the next opponent and winning games.

“With 12 games left anything can happen,” safety Antoine Bethea said. “You have to take it one game at a time. The next game is always the most important game.”

The next game will be Oct. 9 against Kansas City in Lucas Oil Stadium with kickoff at 1 p.m. The game will be aired on WISH-TV (Channel 8).

 

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