Colts: Eric Fisher’s whiff on Carson Wentz strip sack was putrid

Oct 11, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz (2) fumbles the ball after being hit by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (99) during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz (2) fumbles the ball after being hit by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (99) during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

One minute, Indianapolis Colts fans are praising Eric Fisher’s yeoman’s work paving the way for a 76-yard, momentum-flipping Jonathan Taylor touchdown.

The next? They’re watching in abject horror as Fisher suddenly looks washed up once again, getting beaten as harshly as a person can be by Baltimore Ravens rookie Odafe Oweh, who jarred the football loose from Carson Wentz’s arms, only a stone’s throw away from a second touchdown and a true first-quarter statement.

Instead of a 14-0 lead — or even 10-0, which we would’ve taken — suddenly the ball was in the other glove, and Fisher was on the ground, complaining (in futile fashion) about the Ravens’ pass rush jumping off the line early.

No dice. No one was listening.

Take a look for yourself, and make sure you’ve got a paper bag nearby in case you involuntarily expel anything from your mouth.

Because this version of Fisher isn’t the solution, and certainly isn’t what we wasted our time waiting for.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1447724215340199936?s=20

Colts LT Eric Fisher looked awful on this Carson Wentz strip sack.

Yes, Wentz took a shot here. Involuntarily.

Sure, Wentz’s ball security is an issue here, and it’s easy to scoff at this lowlight and immediately pin the blame on the QB who loves to attract all the wrong headlines.

But a quick glance at the highlight, and Fisher’s ineptitude is the most glaring element. He’s beaten off the snap, and borderline guides Oweh directly into Wentz’s path. The whole play takes 1.5 seconds to develop.

We put our trust in Chris Ballard to patch up the offensive line in the wake of Anthony Castonzo’s retirement this offseason. We believed him when he said Fisher was a bargain, no matter how many weeks of the regular season he missed while rehabbing. We bought into the idea that the product would be Pro Bowl-caliber.

Instead, we’ve been sold a blue-and-white lemon, and Fisher’s backtracking reared its head at the worst possible time on Monday night, right as the Colts were on the verge of making a true statement on the road.

Schedule