With so much buzz surrounding what the Indianapolis Colts could accomplish in the 2020-21 season, everything hinged on new starting quarterback Carson Wentz. If Wentz returned to an above-average, or potentially elite form, Indianapolis had all the makings of a team poised to be a top contender in the AFC. However, if the Wentz experiment failed, the Colts would be in serious trouble of even making the playoffs.
Two days into training camp, a worst-case scenario for the Colts might have already occurred. Wentz felt a “twinge” in his plant foot when rolling out on a play, per Colts offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, which has now forced him to miss multiple sessions in camp. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that Wentz would be visiting renowned NFL foot specialist, Dr. Robert Anderson, for further clarification on next steps.
Soon after Wentz’s injury, the initial diagnosis was not great for Indianapolis’ new signal-caller. Wentz is now officially ruled out for the remainder of training camp, including all four preseason games, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. If surgery is needed for Wentz, which is currently on the table, he will miss the beginning of the regular season.
For a quarterback who desperately needed a strong 2021-22 campaign after a horrendous season with the Philadelphia Eagles, this injury can’t come at a worse time for Wentz.
Indianapolis had a scaled-back version of OTA’s, more lenient than any other franchise this spring. Training camp was supposed to be an opportunity for everyone to get used to the physical grind of an 17-game regular season. Preseason also was a key opportunity for Wentz to get a rhythm and familiarity with an offense he hasn’t run with Reich since the 2017-18 season.
All of those crucial moments for Wentz are now off the table, as he will be trying to capture a rhythm mid-season — potentially doing so at less than 100 percent if surgery doesn’t occur.
The Colts open the regular season with one of the toughest five-week stretches of any NFL team: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, @ Tennessee Titans, @ Miami Dolphins, @ Baltimore Ravens. Four of those teams made the playoffs, and Miami barely missed the cut.
If Wentz misses potentially three-to-six weeks due to foot surgery, which has been speculated by medical specialist David Chao, Indianapolis is in serious trouble. An 0-5 start would doom the Colts of making any serious noise in a season they hoped to finally take a leap to an elite threat for a Super Bowl run.
Another interesting storyline to follow related to Wentz’s injury is the draft compensation Indianapolis sent Philadelphia to acquire him.
The Colts traded their 2021 third-round pick, plus a conditional second-round pick in 2022. If Wentz plays 75 percent of the offensive snaps this season, Philadelphia will receive a first-round selection. Another scenario is Wentz playing 70 percent of the snaps, and Indianapolis reaches the playoffs, which again conveys to a 2022 first-round pick.
With this foot injury occurring to Wentz, there’s a chance now those snap count thresholds could be in jeopardy. Failing to reach those marks means Indianapolis would only send Philadelphia a second-round pick in next year’s draft for Wentz.
In Wentz’s place is second-year quarterback Jacob Eason, who was drafted in the fourth round by Indianapolis in 2020. Eason didn’t suit up for a single game last season as the organization treated it as a full redshirt season for the 6-foot-5 prospect from the University of Washington.
Whatever the official diagnosis becomes for Wentz, it’s a huge blow. Now, Indianapolis’ starting quarterback will either be compromised playing through an nagging foot injury, or he will miss multiple regular season games after surgery. It’s the exact type of start that wasn’t supposed to happen for Wentz and the Colts.
"occur" - Google News
August 01, 2021 at 03:10AM
https://ift.tt/3j5FooM
Carson Wentz Injury Occurs At Worst Possible Time For Indianapolis Colts - Forbes
"occur" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2UoDqVw
https://ift.tt/2Wq6qvt
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Carson Wentz Injury Occurs At Worst Possible Time For Indianapolis Colts - Forbes"
Post a Comment