Colts Defensive Player of the Game: Week 12 vs Tennessee Titans

In a week that wouldn’t be classified as a game to write home about for anyone on the Indianapolis Colts roster, 28-year-old cornerback Rashaan Melvin continued his breakout season despite missing over half of the game.

Melvin’s shining moment came when Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota dropped back with just over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter and zipped a ball deep downfield towards veteran wide receiver Harry Douglas. The Colts’ cornerback jumped the route before making an elite diving interception of the pass.

The Titans challenged the play, but after review the replay officials confirmed Melvin had indeed made the catch. The interception was Melvin’s third of the season.

At the time of the play, the Colts were trailing by a score of 6-3 and the Titans looked poised to extend that lead. The play by Melvin gave Jacoby Brissett and the Indianapolis offense the ball at the Colts’ own 45-yard line. Several plays later the score was tied at six.

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Unfortunately for Melvin and the Colts, the third-year cornerback injured his hand during the play and was forced to retire to the locker room visibly grimacing in pain.

Indianapolis Star reporter Stephen Holder provided his thoughts and educated guess on the injury via Twitter saying, “Rashaan Melvin being ruled out for the game suggests he’s got a fracture of some kind in the hand. We’ll see afterward.”

After the game Holder followed up his previous tweet by saying, “Talked to Rashaan Melvin after the game. He indicated they’re not sure if he’s got a hand fracture. Will probably take an MRI to confirm. Won’t happen until tomorrow. So, we wait for news on that front.”

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The Colts will need Melvin back in the starting lineup as soon as possible with matchups against the Jaguars and Bills looming as he continues to be one of the bright spots of an otherwise uninspiring season.