The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in the midst of the AFC playoff hunt. They’re 9-6, one game back of the Tennessee Titans for the AFC South lead, and fighting to make sure they get the best seed possible. And if they win this weekend, they clinch a playoff spot. It would be a pretty terrible time for one of the key players to test positive for COVID and need to miss time, especially if that person chose to remain vaccinated, which means he’ll have to miss a lot more time.
Colts placed QB Carson Wentz on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2021
But that’s the position Carson Wentz has put the Colts in as he has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Wentz will miss this Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders and will have a short practice window before next week’s season-ender against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he tested positive, he will have to quarantine for 10 days. It’s also possible that Wentz is a close contact, which means he’ll be out for five days if he can produce negative tests.
It was a fear that Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel proposed just yesterday.
With the Colts surging to the playoffs and omicron burning through the locker room, let’s discuss the elephant in the room: What happens if quarterback Carson Wentz tests positive for COVID? https://t.co/rawyp4LPzw
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) December 28, 2021
Rookie Sam Ehlinger will likely get the start against Las Vegas.
“We have a plan for the whole team and a plan for certain individuals, Carson being one of them,” coach Frank Reich said Monday. “I’m not going to get into specific names. Those things are being talked about and discussed.”
It’s disappointing news for Colts fans who have been excited about the way Wentz and the team have been playing. And while it may or may not have been avoidable, or at least Wentz would have been assured a faster return, that leaves the team in a bad spot this weekend in a game they need to win for the best possible playoff spot.
The news gave plenty of people around the NFL something to talk about, especially when it came to who the Colts might want to try to sign to replace Wentz in the interim.
Vaccines save lives
And seasons https://t.co/ti3wvGEpoS
— Gabriel Bosslet (@gbosslet) December 28, 2021
Jonathan Taylor is gonna have 60 carries on Sunday. https://t.co/q7klOQRJWG
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) December 28, 2021
funniest possible thing here would be the colts acquiring nick foles and then foles leading them to a super bowl win https://t.co/WooagJKpcT
— Brian Grubb (@briancgrubb) December 28, 2021
How much does a two-week Philip Rivers rental cost? https://t.co/Lq7tFHwdHj
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 28, 2021
At least he had the decency to wait until he got in 75% of the Colts' snaps for the season, ensuring the Eagles get that first-round pick. https://t.co/qKtKKjbJqg
— Glen Macnow (@RealGlenMacnow) December 28, 2021
The Colts being the least vaccinated team coming to back to bite them at the worst of times. https://t.co/Jizz4E8pkR
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 28, 2021
If the Colts lose this weekend, Wentz is going to have to answer lots of questions about it as he prepares to lead them in a must-win game next week.
