Should the Colts re-sign Will Fries?

Will Fries was poised to have a breakout season in 2024... and then it all came crashing down. In a devastating injury, Fries went down in the third quarter of the Colts' Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The injury appeared to be to his right lower leg, and he was immediately surrounded in solidarity - not just by his teammates, but by the Jaguars as well. Fries ended up leaving the field in an air cast, strapped to a backboard, and speculation began almost immediately that he had broken his leg.

That fear was later confirmed: Fries had suffered a fractured right tibia, and his season was over. It was, understandably, a devastating moment for the young guard. And yet, even in his worst moment, he wanted to make sure his teammates knew he was OK: as he was carted off the field, he pumped his fist into the air.

"I just wanted to let them know that I was good," he said, in a new article from the Colts chronicling his injury and recovery.

Fries was one of the last players chosen in the 2021 NFL Draft, and in the 2022 season, he was slated to be a backup for the Colts. But in Week 10, he was named starting right guard, and his career exploded. He improved steadily each season, so much so that Pro Football Focus named him the best right guard in the league.

Fries is a free agent now, though, and a question from SI has been asked: should the Colts re-sign him?

Obviously, this is a no-brainer; the Colts would be absolutely insane not to bring Fries back. And he's already prepared to allay any fears about long-term effects from his injury. "I know I'm gonna be the same player that I was," he said. "I have zero doubt about it. There's going to be no problems at all. That's my plan."

And throughout his recovery, he said his teammates were constantly there for him, further cementing just how valuable he is to this Indianapolis team.

"The guys that came to my house right after that happened and were always checking up on me — those guys in the O-line room are the best dudes in the world. You're not gonna find better guys ever," he said.

"Every single one of them brought me food, came to see me. Tony (Sparano Jr.) was always checking up on me. Those guys are the best and I'm forever grateful for the way they treated me and how much it really meant for them to have my back through that tough time. Going through the injury process wasn't easy but knowing that I had a goal to try to come back and play for those guys — and whether that was realistic or not, I was gonna give it my all. "

At 6'6" and over 300 pounds, Fries has the size and strength to be a devastating run blocker, which he particularly showed in the first five weeks of the 2024 season. He's also only 26 years old, so he has a bright future ahead of him in the NFL.

And if Chris Ballard is smart, that future will be with the Indianapolis Colts.