The Indianapolis Colts were looking to take the momentum they earned during a 3-0 preseason into a Week 1 matchup against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, but they were completely derailed when quarterback Carson Wentz hit the COVID-19 list in the lead-up.
After overcoming a foot injury that doctors claimed could’ve sidelined him for as long as 12 weeks, Wentz appeared ready to make his Colts debut on time. However, his stint on the COVID list raised some additional doubts about his availability.
Wentz is not only coming off of a major injury that limited his practice time, but he has a grand total of zero preseason reps. Has he put enough time in with the players and garnered enough familiarity with the offense to take down Seattle? Frank Reich and the coaching staff seem to think so.
Much to the relief of former Colts punter and SiriusXM host Pat McAfee, Wentz is ready to start against Seattle in Week 1. Indianapolis has a very tough road ahead of them, and McAfee knows that Wentz helping to defeat the Seahawks could give the Colts a huge leg up in the division.
Carson Wentz is BACK for week 1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 8, 2021
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Pat McAfee is pumped that Carson Wentz will start for the Colts Week 1.
The Colts will follow this game against Seattle with a matchup against a Super Bowl contender in the Los Angeles Rams, a division rival in the upstart Tennessee Titans, and a squad in the Miami Dolphins that boasts a very young, expensive, talented combination of defenders.
Wentz is a bit of an unknown coming into this season, as it remains unclear if his nightmare 2020 season was indicative of regression or merely a byproduct of a season in which absolutely nothing went smoothly for Philadelphia, and the Colts need to see if he’s capable of leading this franchise.
At least Indianapolis doesn’t have to start Jacob Eason or the injured Sam Ehlinger in what could be such a pivotal game.
#Colts QB Carson Wentz will be a full participant today in practice, coach Frank Reich told reporters. He’ll be on the field in Week 1. An impressive recovery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2021
The Colts will finally get to see if the infrastructure they provided Wentz can help him turn things around. With one of the better offensive lines in the league, a stable of young pass-catchers, and some superb offensive coaching, can Wentz start to turn the back the clock to his early days in Philadelphia?
One mortal certainty about Indy this season is that they will be better with Wentz under center than Eason given the gulf in experience between the two players. McAfee probably isn’t the only Colts fan who took a massive exhale when Wentz was cleared.
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