Indianapolis Colts All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson has same injury as Wentz
The bad news came in two parts for the Indianapolis Colts. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday that All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson will miss 5-12 weeks after undergoing surgery for an acute bone injury. The news comes days after it was announced quarterback Carson Wentz would miss 5-12 weeks with the same injury.
“Where Carson’s was an old [high school football] injury that cropped up, Q’s was not an old injury,” Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich told ESPN. “Q’s was a developmental anomaly. Something he was kind of born with, something always there, you never know and all of a sudden there it is. They got there different ways, but essentially the same thing. Can’t make that up, right?”
Nelson was part of an offensive line that offered impeccable pass protection to Phillip Rivers a year ago. The Colts ranked second in the NFL, giving up sacks on only 3.39% of QB dropbacks. They traded for Wentz in the offseason after Rivers retired. Now with the injuries, it looks like the passing game will certainly take a step back to start the year.
Second-year quarterback Jacob Eason is next up on the depth chart, but Indianapolis also drafted Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
The Eagles are no stranger to Wentz injuries and once again could be affected. They received a conditional first-round draft pick from the Colts in return for Wentz. The conditions, however, say that Wentz must play 75% of Indianapolis’ snaps or 70% if they make the playoffs. If not, the pick reverts to the second round.
With Wentz and Nelson both out for the foreseeable future, the playoffs look unlikely. The only hope Philadelphia has at keeping the first-round pick is if Wentz makes a speedy recovery.
The Colts open the season Sept. 12 against Seattle. That would technically be five weeks after both Wentz and Nelson’s surgeries, so they would be eligible to return. However, it’s much more likely they take longer to heal and miss at least a few games to start the regular season.
Image courtesy of Julio Aguilar/Getty Images.