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The Indianapolis Colts had indoor training camp practice on Wednesday and were dealt another blow with a lower leg injury—only this time, a sprained ankle:
Kwity Paye with sprained right ankle per source. Colts still waiting for word on severity.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) August 11, 2021
Paye was able to walk off the field without a noticeable limp. Now with the trainers. https://t.co/cMJF2l0Tub
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 11, 2021
Now, it’s certainly possible that this is a minor injury that should only keep Kwity Paye out a few days or so—but given how things have gone this offseason, you can’t blame Colts fans for being overly ‘gloom and doom’ when it comes to any lower leg injury now.
The Colts have already lost both starting quarterback Carson Wentz and offensive guard Quenton Nelson to ‘freak’ foot injuries—with a timetable of 5 to 12 weeks of recovery, while defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has also been held out of practice with his own foot injury recently. Right tackle Braden Smith also sat out a consecutive day with a foot injury.
Right now, Paye, as the Colts’ 2021 first round pick, is the listed starter at right defensive end on the Colts unveiled Week 1 of preseason depth chart, so his loss is certainly significant.
Hopefully, it’s not an extended absence for the talented edge, who could use the early reps.
Meanwhile, the Colts did receive some positive news from another rookie though, as Colts 7th round pick Michael Strachan has continued to shine during training camp practices—and did again on Wednesday:
Play of the day: Michael Strachan with a one-handed snag in the end zone in heavy coverage. Highlight-type stuff.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 11, 2021
Not the first one-handed touchdown he’s made in camp…
Strachan is currently listed as the 5th wideout on the team’s first depth chart and has a very strong chance to make the Colts’ final 53-man roster—if he keeps it up.
At a listed 6’5”, 224 pounds—with a 4.54 forty time, the rookie wide receiver possess a unique combination of size, speed, and so far, playmaking.
The Colts’ standout starting linebackers, Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke, also managed to make some plays in red zone work—against Indy’s still ‘green’ quarterbacks:
Red-zone work to finish the day. Jacob Eason finishes 2-4 with a TD to Parris Campbell and a tipped INT by Bobby Okereke.
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) August 11, 2021
Sam Ehlinger is 1-4 with a TD to TE Jordan Thomas and the pick by Leonard. #Colts
Lastly, both Wentz and Nelson were back again at practice observing, which continues to be an encouraging development for each potentially being on the shorter end of a recovery timeline—with a chance to return by the regular season opener:
Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson back taking mental reps for a second day. #Colts
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) August 11, 2021