The Colts’ 2017 season is off to a rocky start as they’ve announced several key players will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
We’ve already discussed the ramifications of Andrew Luck, Clayton Geathers, and Malik Hooker being placed on the PUP list due to various injuries, but there are a few other key players on that list that are worth mentioning.
Kendall Langford was a starting defensive tackle for Indianapolis last season, but his year ended with a knee injury after playing just seven games in 2016. Langford had a knee scope last August before the season, and it had an adverse effect on his play before the Colts shut him down for the year in October.
Langford has missed all of the Colts’ offseason as he recovers from another knee surgery, and will be on the sidelines to begin training camp as well.
The 31-year-old will likely be a rotational player if he can get healthy this season as Jonathan Hankins and Henry Anderson figure to be the two starters at defensive tackle.
We don’t really have a timetable for Langford’s return, but the Colts need him to get back on the field to provide some quality depth at DT.
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The other notable name on the training camp PUP list is center Brian Schwenke, who signed with the Colts this offseason after spending the first four seasons of his career in Tennessee.
Schwenke injured his ankle during the Colts’ offseason program this summer. The Colts are being cautious with his recovery as he’s only one year removed from dislocating his ankle during the 2015 season.
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Schwenke will probably play multiple roles, once he’s healthy, as Indianapolis’ backup center and guard as he provides some versatile depth to the offensive line.
The Colts are one of the league’s most banged up teams heading into training camp, but they hope to get most of these players back on the field before a Week 1 trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams.