The Indianapolis Colts just can’t seem to find much luck in 2021 and we are only at the beginning of August.
The first bit of terrible news was Carson Wentz being ruled out anywhere from five to 12 weeks with a foot injury that required surgery.
Trade rumors began swirling immediately and that will continue to be true until there is a more firm timetable on his recovery.
Well, things only got worse this week as star offensive lineman Quenton Nelson suffered the exact same injury as Wentz.
NEWS: Frank Reich says Quenton Nelson has a bone issue similar to Carson Wentz’s and will undergo surgery today. Similar timeline to Wentz.
On Wentz, surgery was “best case scenario.” No further damage discovered.
Reich: “Can’t make this up.”
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) August 3, 2021
This is just bizarre and now the Colts are without two top pieces on offense for the start of the season, barring extremely quick recoveries by both.
Can’t Make This Up
This is such bizarre news, because Wentz’s injury was reportedly something he was dealing with since high school.
Now, somehow, Nelson suffered the same exact injury.
At least both are on the same timetable?
Yet we don’t even know if that is the case because one could return in a month and the other could take up to three months.
Colts’ QB Carson Wentz had foot surgery Monday and is expected to miss 5-12 weeks, Colts’ Pro-Bowl G Quenton Nelson has foot surgery today and is on a similar timeline. https://t.co/kGpnGwo5dU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2021
It is different player to player and both depend on driving their feet into the ground to be elite at their respective jobs.
The Colts already have an injured lineman in Eric Fisher, who suffered a torn Achilles with the Kansas City Chiefs last postseason.
The difference is the Colts signed him injured.
Still, he is a notable absence.
Next Steps
The first and most important thing the Colts need to figure out is who their starting quarterback will be for Week 1.
Technically, it is possible Wentz could return.
But someone still needs to be the top quarterback between now and whenever he returns, and the lack of experience on the depth chart is alarming.
That leaves someone like Nick Foles as a top trade target.
Add in Nelson’s absence and adding a veteran may be the only option to ensure any sort of success at the start of the season.
Throwing someone like Jacob Eason on the field right away, when he planned to be a backup, could backfire and derail the season from the start.
That is unless the Colts truly believe he is the answer.
This is, to put it simply, a nightmare start to the season for the Colts.
The only positive is these injuries happened at the start of August, as opposed to the start of September.
If the injuries were bound to happen, this is a small victory.
But don’t expect Colts fans to see any positives from this situation at this point in time.
NEXT: Colts Getting Full Carson Wentz Experience Right Away