James Boyd of The Athletic reports that another starter has been placed on injured reserve by the Indianapolis Colts.
The type of injury that put him on injured leave is still unknown, but the former first-round pick will now miss the next four games.
Boyd claims that starter’s injury won’t finish the season and that he might make a comeback after the Colts’ bye week.
With his injury for at least four games, the Indianapolis Colts are turning to rookie Tanor Bortolini at center. Bortolini, a fourth-round pick, has already had some starting experience this season, having appeared in two games prior. His insertion into the starting lineup continues the trend of rookie involvement along the Colts’ offensive line. In addition to Bortolini, tackle Matt Goncalves and right guard Dalton Tucker are also starting as rookies.
Kelly’s injury adds to an already difficult season for the Colts’ offensive line, as he joins left tackle Bernhard Raimann (who is out with a concussion) and right guard Will Fries, who is out for the season with a tibia injury. Kelly, 31, has been a mainstay on the Colts’ line for years and signed a four-year, $50 million extension with the team back in 2020. Over his nine seasons with the team, Kelly has earned four Pro Bowl selections and started 121 games.
With Kelly now on injured reserve, the Colts have the opportunity to see how Bortolini develops in a more prominent role. If Bortolini continues to perform well in Kelly’s absence, it could signal a shift in the future of the center position in Indianapolis. If the rookie shows enough promise, the team might consider keeping him in the starting role beyond this season, which would also align with their broader long-term strategy.
As Kelly is set to be a free agent after the season, the next few weeks could be pivotal in determining whether he remains with the Colts or if the team decides to move forward with Bortolini as their starting center.
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