Quenton Nelson doesn't want pity after third offseason surgery
Quenton Nelson doesn’t want pity after his third surgery of the offseason. After undergoing foot surgery that will supposedly keep him out 5-12 weeks, the former Notre Dame offensive lineman believes he’ll be ready for Week 1.
“3rd surgery of the offseason in the books, no time for pity. F — k that,” Nelson wrote in an Instagram post. “Truth is, I’m thankful, thankful the early part of the timetable says 5 weeks. That gives me 5 weeks to do everything I can physically and mentally to be ready to go Week 1 to smash these goals.”
Nelson isn’t listening to anyone when they tell him he could be out for 12 weeks. It’s obvious he’s ready to attack rehab and be back for his Indianapolis Colts on the short side of the timetable.
It’s the first time Nelson has commented on the injury, but he believes it’s more of a road block than anything. Ironically, it’s virtually the same injury that Colts quarterback Carson Wentz suffered earlier in camp.
Nelson and Wentz both given timetables of 5-12 weeks
Colts head coach Frank Reich spoke on both player’s injuries, highlighting the differences and similarities in the duo’s setbacks.
“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?”
While Wentz may not be rushed back, Nelson is hell-bent on not missing any games in 2021. The 2018 first-round selection has never missed a game. Nelson has started all 16 games for the Colts each of his first three years.
In addition, Nelson has been vital when he’s on the field. Each year of his career, the former Notre Dame offensive lineman has been named as a First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. He’s helped keep Colts quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett and Phillip Rivers off the turf.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently ranked the top interior lineman for the 2021 season. Unsurprisingly, Nelson led the pack. Fowler mentions that Nelson was the only player who came close to matching the amount of first-place votes received by Aaron Donald.
“In collecting the ballots for each position, Nelson got the highest percentage of first-place votes of any player outside of Aaron Donald,” Fowler wrote. “The dominance label is used loosely, but Nelson has that ability.”
Nelson’s dominated the NFL since the beginning, and now he’ll look to dominate his return timetable. Don’t pity Quenton Nelson, pity anyone who bets against his return.
Photo courtesy Mark Brown / Stringer via Getty Images