The Colts have been decimated by injuries already this season, and they’ve been forced to add their starting center to the lengthy injury report.
UPDATE: Ian Rapoport reports that Kelly is likely to be placed on injured reserve, which would keep him out until at least Week 9.
#Colts C Ryan Kelly, who will undergo surgery to repair a bone in his foot, will likely be placed on IR/designated to return, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2017
Center Ryan Kelly was an important piece of this Colts offense last season as he brought stability to the interior of the offensive line as a rookie.
Kelly and Andrew Luck were ready to become the Jeff Saturday and Peyton Manning of this generation of Colts.
However, Luck still hasn’t stepped on the practice field due to complications with his recovery from shoulder surgery, and now Ryan Kelly will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks as he will require surgery to repair his foot injury.
Kelly injured his foot in practice less than a week ago, and the original prognosis was that he would sit out for about three weeks. This timetable would have him ready for their Week 1 matchup against the Rams.
Like most Colts injuries this offseason, Kelly’s foot injury was more serious than they originally thought as they discovered a bone defect.
Colts C Ryan Kelly scheduled to undergo surgery on a bone defect in his foot Friday that is expected to sideline him 6-8 weeks, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2017
The Colts’ front office signed former Titans center Brian Schwenke this offseason to give them some versatile depth at the center and guard positions. But he’s been on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) with a sore ankle that has given him problems in the past.
With Kelly and Schwenke out, the Colts were forced to start Deyshawn Bond in their first preseason game. Bond has never made an NFL snap at center, and he came into training camp as the third-string center.
Pagano says #Colts will look at all options on the wire and see if there is a center they can bring in.
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) August 17, 2017
While Colts beat writer George Bremer reports that Schwenke should return to practice soon, Chuck Pagano said that Indianapolis will be proactive in seeking out a free agent center to bring in.
Nick Mangold and Jeremy Zuttah top the list of available centers, and the Colts had already brought Zuttah in for a visit earlier this week.
Mangold or Zuttah would each be quality replacements, but the loss of Ryan Kelly for the first couple weeks of the regular season will hurt.
#Colts C Ryan Kelly, who will undergo surgery to repair a bone in his foot, will likely be placed on IR/designated to return, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2017