The Indianapolis Colts' offense is set to face some changes up front, as starting center Ryan Kelly has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four weeks. The announcement was made by the team Tuesday afternoon, with FOX59 reporting that Kelly's injuries include a calf strain and a damaged knee. Despite these setbacks, Kelly participated in last week’s full practices on Thursday and Friday before playing every snap in the game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Colts for nine seasons, has been a steadfast piece of the team's line, starting 121 games over his career. His absence is sure to heavily test the Colts, who have already suffered several hits to their offensive line. In accordance with the move, the Colts have claimed safety Darren Hall off waivers from Arizona to fill the roster spot. Hall, a former 108th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has appeared in 35 career games. NBC Sports highlights that rookie Tanor Bortolini, who has two starts this season, is expected to step up in Kelly's stead.
Though losing a player of Kelly's caliber is less than ideal, the Colts seem to have prepared a suitable understudy in Bortolini. Despite the learning curve often associated with the position, Bortolini has shown promise in his limited game time. He's allowed only one pressure in 100 pass-blocking snaps and ranks 21st out of 49 eligible centers in run-blocking grade, according to Colts Wire. Playing the position well, he has quickly had to adapt to fill significant shoes – literal and metaphorical – on the line.
As for what this IR move means for the Colts' upcoming matchups, further clarity will come when the Week 10 injury report is released. Key players such as tackle Bernhard Raimann's and tackle Braden Smith's statuses are currently under question due to recent injuries. They head into their next game against Buffalo on Sunday with a rejigged roster and a resolve to not let injuries derail their campaign.