INDIANAPOLIS — One of the NFL’s unforgiving aspects is wreaking havoc with the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line.
Listen to someone with intimate knowledge.
“It’s football,’’ left tackle Bernhard Raimann said Friday afternoon. “People get hurt all the time.
“That’s just part of the game.’’
Raimann is Exhibit A.
The 2022 third-round draft pick started the first eight games of this season, but suffered a concussion at Houston that forced him to miss one game. He returned for the week 10 meeting with Buffalo only to exit in the second quarter with an injury to his left knee.
With Raimann in rehab mode for two weeks, rookie Matt Goncalves made his first career starts at left tackle.
“That was really frustrating,’’ Raimann said. “When it rains, it pours.’’
And it’s been pouring on the Colts’ offensive line for the past two months.
A byproduct of that? The Colts will start a sixth different offensive line combination Sunday against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Right tackle Braden Smith (personal reasons) and rookie center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) were ruled out Friday, along with wideouts Josh Downs (shoulder) and Ashton Dulin (ankle).
Colts coach Shane Steichen wouldn’t confirm the configuration of his offensive line for Sunday, but he previously mentioned Danny Pinter would replace Bortolini at center. Bortolini, by the way, had started the previous three games for Ryan Kelly, who’s on injured reserve following knee surgery. Kelly is eligible to return for the Dec. 15 trip to Denver.
Steichen also said this week the team was evaluating a possible switch at right guard. Undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker has started the past seven games after veteran Will Fries suffered a season-ending broken leg, but his effectiveness has waned.
Possibilities at right tackle include flipping Goncalves from the left side with Raimann’s return or inserting Blake Freeland. At right guard, Mark Glowinski is a candidate to supplant Tucker.
“A ton of confidence in these guys,’’ Steichen said. “Obviously it’s next man up and we have a lot of confidence in whoever is out there, that we go out and perform at a high level.’’
An o-line combination that includes Pinter and Glowinski would involve two players who have yet to take an offensive snap this season.
Pinter has been on the field for 35 special teams snaps. The 2020 fifth-round pick out of Ball State started seven games in his first three seasons — four at center, three at right guard — but missed 2023 with a broken ankle.
Glowinski started 55 games at right guard for the Colts from 2018-21 before signing a three-year, $18.3 million free agent contract with the New York Giants. He started six games for the Giants last season, including week 18 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
New York released Glowinski last offseason and the Colts re-signed him Nov. 21.
Smith’s absence clearly is a blow. He’s been on the field for all but one of the Colts’ 732 offensive snaps.
So, it might be incumbent upon Goncalves to show his versatility. The third-round pick was given extensive reps during the preseason at both tackle spots, along with both guard positions, just in case.
He’s been on the field for 230 of 243 snaps the past four weeks at left tackle because of Raimann’s issues.
“If I don’t have a home, you’re definitely going to have to move around,’’ Goncalves said. “I’m hoping one day I will have a home so I can hone my craft.
“But for now, I’m trying to be my best for the team. Wherever the team needs me to play, I will.’’
Downs ‘week-to-week’
The offensive line isn’t the only area of concern this weekend.
The wideout group will be without Downs, who has a team-high 53 receptions and is the Colts’ punt returner, and Dulin, who also is a top special teams contributor.
Downs said the right shoulder he injured in last Sunday’s loss to Detroit was “fine,’’ but the team decided otherwise.
“Just comes down to what the coaches and the trainers think (is) best,’’ he said. “I’ve just got to work through it.
“Week-to-week just based off how I feel really and the conversations I have with the trainers.’’
With Downs and Dulin out, the Colts likely will add a receiver from the practice squad. That group includes D.J. Montgomery and Laquon Treadwell.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter/X at @mchappell51.
