August 19, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon McKinney (91) during their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at M
The worst part about any NFL training camp is the unfortunate reality that injuries happen. For the Colts, it came just three days into camp when DL Brandon McKinney, a former free agent signing from the Baltimore Ravens who followed Chuck Pagano to Indy, was placed on IR due to the condition of his left knee.
McKinney has not played since 2011, and hasn’t played more than 14 games in a single season throughout his entire career. With the depth the Colts have on the defensive line, it would have likely been tough to keep McKinney around anyway. Approaching 30 years of age, McKinney certainly doesn’t have to be done with football, but looking at his long-term health, it’s hard not to wonder at this point if that might not be what’s best for him.
Aubrayo Franklin and Josh Chapman have been rotating at the top nose tackle position for the Colts’ starting defense.
In other injury news, the Colts suffered a big time scare today when center Khaled Holmes was carted off the field with a leg injury. According to the team’s practice report, Holmes suffered an ankle injury and had it wrapped, and it remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined, or if the Colts merely got away with one there.
Holmes was a fourth round pick out of USC who had trouble staying healthy his senior year, but he was expected to compete with Samson Satele for the starting C position. That seems like an even tougher uphill climb at this point.