Colts News: Week 18 injuries, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and draft positioning
The Indianapolis Colts are preparing to play their final game of the season but there are still a lot of headlines surrounding the team.
Before the season started, everyone assumed Week 18 would be somewhat of a celebration for the Indianapolis Colts as they were expected to win the AFC South and go to the playoffs. However, the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars will be playing each other for the division title on Saturday, and the 4-11-1 Colts will be finishing their season with a Week 18 game against the Houston Texans. However, Indy will be without a lot of key players as the team has somewhat of a crowded injury report.
While the Titans and Jaguars are competing for a playoff spot, Indy and Houston may be having a tank-off in Week 18 when they compete. With both already eliminated from playoff contention, the game will still have a lot of eyes on it because of the implications it has on the order of the 2023 Draft. Houston could secure the No. 1 pick or be jumped by the Chicago Bears and the Colts could end up anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6 depending on the outcome of their game and a few others around the league.
One team that is going to the playoffs is Indy’s Week 17 opponent the New York Giants. However, the Giants haven’t been able to officially move on from their Week 17 win because New York’s rookie defensive end, Kayvon Thibodeaux, has been going back-and-forth in the media with Indy’s interim head coach, Jeff Saturday. After Saturday criticized Thibodeaux for a “tasteless” and “trash” celebration next to an injured Nick Foles, Thibodeaux responded that he doesn’t even know who Saturday is.
"I don't know who [Jeff Saturday] is. Anybody who comments on it, unless I know who they are, it doesn't really affect me."
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) January 4, 2023
Kayvon Thibodeaux on his snow angel celebration after sacking Nick Foles: pic.twitter.com/OQZAayKKoY
Kayvon Thibodeaux is an impressive young defender and is having a quality rookie season. He was extremely disruptive against the Colts. However, not knowing who Jeff Saturday is really isn’t a flex. Saturday played as many seasons in the NFL (14) as Thibodeaux has games. Additionally, Jeff has more Pro Bowl selections (6) than Thibodeaux has career sacks (4). Kayvon Thibodeaux probably has a nice career in front of him but he needs to put some respect on Saturday’s name.
More Colts News:
- Indianapolis’ rookie defensive back, Rodney Thomas, is the close friend and former high school teammate of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Thomas drove from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday morning to go visit Hamlin and left the hospital feeling optimistic about Hamlin’s recovery.
- Sam Ehlinger will start Indy’s season finale at quarterback and Matt Ryan will serve as the backup while Nick Foles recovers from the rib injury that sidelined him in the Colts’ Week 17 game.
- Colts place Kenny Moore on injured reserve, ending his season before the final game. Indianapolis was hoping that Moore would recover from his ankle injury in time for the season finale.
NFL News:
- Buffalo Bills announce that Damar Hamlin “has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours” and that “he appears to be neurologically intact.”
- Jim Harbaugh is reportedly interested in returning to the NFL and several teams have already been linked to the Michigan head coach.
- NFL announces 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023. In what’s shaping up to be a stacked class, the inductees will be announced during the NFL Honors on February 9.
