The hits just keep coming. In a year where the Colts have consistently struggled to close out games, they have gotten no help at all on the injury front. This list of players they have had to place on injured reserve has included far too many key contributors on a roster that was thin, to begin with. Now they can add one more to that list.
We have elevated DE Anthony Johnson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and placed OLB John Simon on IR: https://t.co/K9MJJIuM3Z pic.twitter.com/bQLh82ntn8
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 5, 2017
So many key pieces hurt for the #Colts this year. List of the players the team has sent to injured reserve:
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 5, 2017
Luck: shoulder
Swoope: leg
Hooker: ACL
Turbin: arm
Good: wrist (later returned)
Bond: quad
Hogan: ACL
Mewhort: knee
Anderson: throat
Desir: shoulder
Simon: shoulder
Linebacker John Simon, who had been one of the Colts’ best and most consistent defensive players before his injury, has been placed on IR with a shoulder injury. Simon arrived from the Texans via free agency and was an immediate and noticeable upgrade over the previous guys in his role.
He performed well against the run, set the edge effectively, and seemed to have a nose for big plays and turnovers. That kind of difference maker has been few and far between on this roster and is not something they can afford to lose.
In the games he was able to play in, he ended up with 42 tackles, 3 sacks, a pass defended, and a pick six.
Taking his spot on the roster is defensive end Anthony Johnson, who was elevated from the practice squad. Johnson is 6’2” 295lbs and has played for the Jets, Patriots, Redskins, and Dolphins. He has seen action in 11 games over the past two years and registered 12 tackles.
There is not a lot worse than losing your good players to injuries, but that has been the plight of this Colts team. How much can be done to prevent injuries is an interesting question, and one has to wonder if the medical staff deserves a very serious evaluation this offseason to see if they are doing all they can to make this team as well-prepared as possible to avoid injuries.
On the Colts Cast back in November, Matt talked with Will Carroll in depth about advances in sports medicine, and given the struggles the team has had to stay healthy, it is definitely worth another listen.
In the meantime, all Colts fans can do is wait for this dreadful season to end and try to hold onto hope that next year will be a major improvement. It cannot get much worse. (Right?)