Just one week ago, Indianapolis Colts fans were forced into a state of panic as reports out of camp indicated the left tackle position was shaping up to be a disaster while Eric Fisher continues his Achilles rehab.
At the time, Julién Davenport had just been activated off the COVID list, and Sam Tevi and Will Holden — the only other LTs on the active roster — were busy getting dominated in practice and the preseason.
Not that the bar was set high, but Davenport seems to have established himself as the frontrunner to win the temporary starting job.
Though it’s encouraging to know the Colts have an idea of who their Week 1 left tackle will be, it goes without saying fans would feel a lot better about the situation if Fisher was recovered and in the lineup.
Unfortunately for Fisher, however, his return just a got a lot more complicated, as he landed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday.
The Colts have placed left tackle Eric Fisher on the COVID-19 reserve list, further complicating his return to the active roster. Fisher has been on the physically unable to perform list rehabbing a previous Achilles injury.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) August 26, 2021
The Colts placed LT Eric Fisher on the COVID-19 reserve list.
This is the absolute last thing Fisher and the Colts needed. Again, Davenport could prove to be a serviceable replacement, but can we really draw any firm conclusions from a week of practice and some preseason snaps? Probably not.
Fisher is widely said to be ahead of schedule in his rehab and he was just starting to ramp up his individual workouts.
However, the former No. 1 overall pick now faces a big setback. Depending on whether he’s vaccinated or if he contracted the virus, he could be forced to quarantine away from the team (and medical staff) for anywhere between 5-10 days.
The good news is that the Colts haven’t placed anyone else on the COVID list, but we’re still talking about Fisher missing potentially up to 10 vital days of practice. Who’s to say he wouldn’t have been activated within that timeframe?
After all, head coach Frank Reich told the media this week that Fisher was approaching the “last step” in his rehab.
Eric Fisher comes out for his side work with a helmet for the first time. Take that as you will. #Colts
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) August 19, 2021
For the sake of argument, let’s say Fisher tested positive and the virus derails his conditioning levels. That would delay his return beyond the the required self-isolation period. Only then (maybe two weeks down the road) could he resume his rehab.
The details behind Fisher’s status are unclear, but Colts fans better hope Davenport lives up to the hype he’s garnered this past week, because it seems like Fisher will be shelved until at least the middle of next week.
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