Colts Have Several Injuries On Offense For Patriots Game

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS – One of the Colts’ most important players might not be available for Sunday’s game in New England.

And the team could be turning to third string center Danny Pinter.

Shane Steichen said rookie center Tanor Botolini developed concussion-like symptoms following the loss to the Lions, so he’s in concussion protocol to start the week.

If Bortolini can’t go, and with Ryan Kelly (knee) on injured reserve for at least one more game, the Colts would go to Pinter, if needed.

Pinter has started 7 career games, his last one came in September 2022. Pinter has yet to play an offensive snap in 9 games this season, playing 35 special teams snaps.

“Really smart, cerebral, very tough,” Steichen said on Monday in describing the Ball State product. “Obviously has been around here for a while. The guys love him. If he gets that opportunity this week, we are definitely looking forward to that.”

The Colts offensive line is coming off arguably its worst performance of the season against the Lions.

When asked if starting lineup changes could be there on Sunday (perhaps undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker at right guard?), Steichen said the team is looking at everything.

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Besides Pinter, the Colts offense had several wideouts get banged up in the Lions game.

Ashton Dulin (ankle, didn’t return), Josh Downs (shoulder), Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder) all missed various points of game action. Even Alec Pierce (ankle) got re-taped during the game.

Pittman Jr. called his shoulder injury “minor” on Monday, and didn’t seem too concerned about playing moving forward.

Downs’ situation appears to be more up in the air, with reports that he could miss the Patriots game.

When Steichen met the media on Monday afternoon, the head coach had yet to have his medical meeting from Sunday’s game, so he only offered this on the reports of Downs.

“I’ve heard (the reports), but I haven’t heard, heard until we have the medical meeting, so we’ll see,” Steichen said.

If Downs misses Sunday’s game in New England, he will get a two-week rest on his right shoulder, with the Colts bye coming to start December.

The Downs’ injury occurred with a little more than 11 minutes to go in Sunday’s fourth quarter against the Lions.

After getting examined on the sidelined, Downs surprisingly re-entered a game with the Colts down 3 scores. Downs was going to go back to field a punt with 7 minutes to go before the Lions then got into field goal range.

The second-year wideout was targeted once on the lone offensive drive he played the rest of the game. That came on a diving end-zone attempt, with Downs appearing to check himself out of the game following the next snap.

Despite missing two games this season, Downs leads the Colts with 51 catches (12 more than anyone else on the roster).

In a year in which the Colts have gotten hardly any receiving production from their tight ends/running backs, they’ve really relied on a player like Downs to offer some consistency.

Downs did miss two games due to a training camp ankle injury, and the Colts lost both of those games to the Texans and Packers.

Back in September, the Colts mainly relied on a bigger role for AD Mitchell, more so than Ashton Dulin, in filling the Downs’ slot duties. Rookie Anthony Gould played a lot of slot in the offseason, but has been a frequent (healthy) inactive in 2024. Gould played 3 offensive snaps in the 2 games Downs missed this season.

The Colts (5-7) will take on the Patriots (3-9) this Sunday at 1:00, before their bye week.