In a significant blow to the Indianapolis Colts, right guard Will Fries was placed on injured reserve this Monday after enduring a broken lower right leg during Sunday’s grueling loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The details come from Colts coach Shane Steichen, who confirmed that Fries, at just 26 years of age, underwent surgery on Sunday night. The injury took place after Fries was involved in a hard-hitting play which saw running back Trey Sermon make a dash, unfortunately resulting in a collision that left Fries clutching his leg. With just a tense 5:22 left in the quarter, the game stopped as medical personnel rushed in, a cart was brought on, and a pneumatic cast was carefully placed on Fries’ injured limb to ensure stability.
Fries, a fourth-year veteran, has been a robust presence on the field, starting 31 of the 41 NFL games in which he has participated since being selected in the seventh round in 2021. His formidable consistency was evident as he started all 17 games last season and the first five of this one. His loss is palpable for the Colts, who will need to recalibrate their strategy moving forward.
Parallel to this development, the Colts have waived cornerback Dallis Flowers. A player with potential, Flowers has been part of the Colts lineup for three seasons. At 27, he had made an impact through the first four games this season, contributing nine tackles, including one for a loss, and showcasing his speed with a strategic 30-yard kick return.
Throughout his 21 career games with Indianapolis, five of which he started, Flowers amassed 32 tackles, caused one forced fumble, and recovered one fumble. His special teams prowess is highlighted by his impressive average of 30.6 yards over 25 kickoff returns, alongside 4.3 yards over three punt returns.
As the Colts move forward after this unfortunate turn of events, the team—and its fans—will be looking for rising players to step up and fill the significant void left by Fries and adapt to the changes dictated by Flowers’ departure. The team’s resilience and determination are sure to be tested in the coming games, as they seek to maintain momentum and continue their quest in the 2024 season.
