Colts: Eric Fisher is not the answer to replace Anthony Castonzo at left tackle
The Indianapolis Colts need a franchise left tackle. Not a bargain bin player of general manager Chris Ballard’s choice. Not a player at a discount due to injury.
This is far from a knock on former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowler Eric Fisher, but some fans need to realize he is not the answer for the Colts at this very moment.
Fisher is reportedly set to visit Indy later this week. He remains a free agent after the Chiefs released him this offseason, which likely came as a result of the veteran suffering a torn Achilles late in the team’s playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.
It’s been said he’s expected back by mid-August, but nobody knows how he’s going to look or how effective he’ll be coming off such a significant injury entering his age-30 campaign.
Former #Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher is set to visit the #Colts later this week, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 4, 2021
It’s time to realize the Colts already missed out on the best left tackle options. Eric Fisher is not one of them.
There’s a reason the Chiefs opted to cut ties with Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz and upgrade with Orlando Brown Jr. (via trade), Joe Thuney (via free agency) and Creed Humphrey (via the NFL Draft). Fisher has played in just 23 games the last two years due to various ailments (he had core muscle surgery in 2019 that sidelined him for a month as well as a groin issue that put him on the shelf to start that season).
Before that, Fisher was an absolute workhorse. He played in 94 of 96 games to begin his career. Admirable. Not many players can do that.
But now injuries are beginning to creep up at the worst possible time — during the back-nine of his career. Why do the Colts see that as a worthwhile investment?
Eric Fisher is really, really good. On the same level as Anthony Castonzo for left tackles.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) May 4, 2021
If Fisher’s Achilles checks out medically, he’s a no-brainer signing for #Colts.
Left tackle is arguably the most important position on the field. Quarterback usually takes the cake, but what’s a quarterback without premium blindside protection?
The Colts are really going about this in the most excruciating way possible. There was no reason they shouldn’t have thrown a ton of money at Trent Williams or traded their first-round pick for Orlando Brown Jr. before the Chiefs did. They had the assets and the cap space to make both of those transactions.
Instead, odds are they start off the season with someone you hardly know protecting their new QB … with Fisher to eventually follow coming off a potential career-altering injury.
Ballard and Co. should be treating this roster like it’s a move or two away from Super Bowl contention. Instead, they’re trying to be far too tactical when the best answers continue to sit right in front of them.
