Injuries are an inevitable part of sports, especially in a contact-heavy game like football. They can occur at any time, but it’s particularly disappointing when they arise before the regular season even begins. This is the unfortunate situation facing the Indianapolis Colts as they prepare to open their season this Sunday against the Houston Texans, with several key players potentially sidelined.
Jelani Woods is confirmed to be out for the season following toe surgery. Although he may not be the most critical player on the roster, his absence is still a setback. This marks the second consecutive year that Woods will miss the entire season, leaving the Colts with no choice but to move forward without him. Additionally, Josh Downs has been dealing with an injury sustained in practice. While he seems to be making progress, his availability for Sunday remains uncertain.
Another concern is kicker Matt Gay, who has struggled during the preseason. Some of these issues were attributed to the absence of his usual holder, but now the focus has shifted to his groin injury, which raises doubts about how long he might be sidelined. A groin injury is particularly concerning for a kicker, and it’s not an ideal situation as the Colts enter the new season.
The Houston Texans are already favored in this matchup and are the favorites to win the division. The Colts, on the other hand, could be missing three key players, and they are also returning a quarterback who missed most of last season. While a Week 1 game is not a must-win, losing at home to a division rival could put the Colts at an early disadvantage.
The silver lining is that, aside from Woods, no one has been officially ruled out. There’s still hope that both Josh Downs and Matt Gay will be ready to play when the Colts kick off their season on Sunday. The team will likely be cautious, ensuring that neither player is rushed back prematurely, as they will be crucial for the long haul. Here’s hoping the Colts can start their season with a healthy roster and a strong performance against the Texans.