Colts: Trey Burton’s injury could be a problem for Indy

The injury to TE Trey Burton could be a crucial blow to the Colts offense.

It was truly only a matter of time until the Indianapolis Colts watched one of their players limp off the field at training camp. On Saturday, tight end Trey Burton, who signed a one-year contract as a free agent this offseason, was removed from the team’s scrimmage after suffering a calf injury.

Some fans in Indianapolis might not view this as a big deal because Jack Doyle started all 16 games in 2019. However, the comments from Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni earlier this month indicated that Burton was going to play a major role this season.

That’s still possible, but the 28-year-old potentially being forced to miss significant time would be a huge blow to Indianapolis.

Burton was having a really strong camp before going down with this injury, taking full advantage of the opportunities given to him, while Doyle has been eased in with a neck ailment. When you consider that, plus his history with head coach Frank Reich — they won a Super Bowl together in Philadelphia three years ago — it’s reasonable to assume that the Florida product was carving out a significant role for himself.

If there’s a silver lining to be had here, it’s that Burton avoided a serious injury. The Colts initially feared that the six-year pro could have been sidelined for months. While it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season, the latest updates suggest his absence will be measured on a week-to-week basis.

Indianapolis is going to need the tight end position to step up this year following a truly underwhelming 2019 campaign, as the likes of Doyle and Eric Ebron combined to post just 74 receptions for 823 yards and seven touchdowns.

This news on Burton, though not as daunting as it could have been, really couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Colts.