INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts are about as healthy as can be expected considering they’re heading into week 12.
However, the one exception is substantial.
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann was ruled out Friday and will miss a second straight game after suffering an injury to his left knee in the loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The most consequential spot on the offensive line once again is in the hands of rookie Matt Goncalves when the Colts entertain the 9-1 Detroit Lions Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Shane Steichen described Raimann’s status as “week-to-week, but progressing well,’’ and the 2022 third-round draft pick might be able to return for next week’s meeting with the New England Patriots in Foxboro. He didn’t practice this week, but worked on the side with trainers as part of his rehab.
The Colts would have placed Raimann on the injured reserve list if they thought he might miss four games.
Raimann’s absence is the latest to impact the offensive line. Position coach Tony Sparano Jr. already replaced Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly (knee) with rookie Tanor Bortolini and veteran right guard Will Fries (broken leg) with undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker.
“He’s done a phenomenal job,’’ Steichen said of Sparano. “I’ve said this before: He coaches all the guys the same. Either they’re undrafted, rookie, vet, he’s coach them all the same because you never know in this business. Next man up.
“Excited for those three guys, what they’re doing and their opportunity they get every week.’’
The influx of youth, though, seems to be straining efficiency.
The Colts started three rookies in last Sunday’s win over the New York Jets for the first time since 2016. Anthony Richardson passed for a career-high 272 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns – two rushing, one passing – but the run game averaged just 2.6 yards per attempt with a long of 10.
The pass protection allowed only two sacks and three other QB hits, but Richardson avoided at least two other sacks by shrugging off defenders.
Glowinski added
Help for the offensive line arrived Thursday when the team signed Matt Glowinski to the practice squad.
“Depth,’’ Shane Steichen said Friday. “Add depth and compete. That’s why we brought him back.’’
Glowinski started 55 games at right guard from 2018-2021 after the Colts claimed him off waivers from Seattle. He was a free agent following the ’21 season and relocated to the New York Giants with a three-year, $18.3 million contract.
Glowinski, 32, started 22 games with the Giants that past two seasons before being released following last season.
He has maintained the family home in Zionsville, so returning to the West 56th Street complex wasn’t all that complicated. The down time allowed Glowinski to focus more on his family; he and his wife have two children with a third on the way.
While Glowinski embraced being a husband and dad, he always wanted to resume his NFL career. He was waiting for the right opportunity.
“I had just gotten done with my workout and I got a call,’’ Glowinski said. “It was like, ‘Can you come in and do a workout?’
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’’’
It’s uncertain how quickly he can be added to the o-line mix.
“I haven’t played since January,’’ Glowinski said. “Most of it is seeing where I’m at. And in a sense, I want to know where I’m at in terms of getting around and how I’m feeling.
“Am I going to be better? Am I going to be a little behind? How much do I need to catch up? I think they want to see where my footings at.’’
He felt right at home very quickly.
“Of course,’’ Glowinski said. “I love the guys that are here. As soon as I got here to get my workout in, I had guys bumping me up because they were excited I was here.’’
Holdovers from Glowinski’s last season in Indy: Kelly, right tackle Braden Smith, left guard Quenton Nelson, interior backup Danny Pinter and Fries.
The decision to re-sign Glowinski is an indication the Colts are at least mildly concerned with how Tucker’s playing. It’s worth noting they already have veteran Josh Sills on the practice squad.
Lewis close to returning
Defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis has missed the last seven games after undergoing elbow surgery, but might be close to returning.
Maybe Sunday against Detroit?
“We’re still going through the discussions,’’ Steichen said, “but he looked good this week.’’
The Colts placed Lewis on the injured reserve list Oct. 1 and designated him to return to practice this week. He was a full-go Thursday and Friday and is listed questionable for Detroit.
“Just attacking the rehab,’’ Lewis said this week. “It’s been six weeks since surgery. It’s been pretty smooth. I mean, it was rough early on, but I feel like I’m ready to get back playing.’’
When he’s back on the field, Lewis will wear a brace to reinforce his right elbow. He tore ulnar collateral ligament and damaged muscles around his elbow late in the week 4 win over Pittsburgh.
Lewis joked he and tackle DeForest Buckner “can be twins’’ because each will be wearing elbow braces.
“We kind of share stories when it comes to the elbow,’’ he said.
Is Sunday a realistic expectation?
“It’s possible,’’ Lewis said. “However, I do think moving on throughout the week, we’ve got to get adjusted to playing again.’’
He’s been through significant rehab during his seven-year career. Lewis finished the 2021 and ’22 seasons on IR after tearing patellar tendons in each knee.
“This one was a small bump in the road compared to knees,’’ he said.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.