Promising Colts' Defender Suffers Season-Ending Injury
It’s been reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter that Indianapolis Colts defensive end Genard Avery is getting put on injured reserve due to sustaining a knee injury. This will end Avery’s promising 2023 campaign before it has a chance to begin.
Schefter says, “Another day, another notable injury in Indianapolis: the Colts are placing DE Genard Avery on injured reserve due to an LCL/meniscus knee injury that will require season-ending surgery."
This is another big blow to a young Colts team that needed the depth pieces for their defensive front. Avery was having quite an impressive training camp ahead of the preseason, where many thought he would get a shot to show what he had at defensive end for Indianapolis. Sadly, this won’t be the case for Avery’s 2023 season.
Through six seasons in the NFL, Avery has played for three teams (Cleveland Browns 2018-2019, Philadelphia Eagles 2019-2021, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022). In this time he’s logged 62 games (17 starts), 106 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 29 QB hits. This was a veteran that the Colts were ready to potentially plug-and-play at defensive end with teammates like Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Unfortunately, he’s not going to get the chance, as an injured reserve designation before the season begins is an indication of a season-ending injury. Avery will look to begin his rehab process as soon as possible.
The Colts have been having huge issues with injuries to rookies and veterans on both sides of the ball before the second preseason game kicks off. The only silver lining (outside of the season-ending injuries) is that there is still some time for Indy to heal up before the week one regular season kicks off against the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars.
What will Indianapolis do for a replacement at defensive end? Avery may not be a superstar, but he was showing serious promise and ability that was impressing head coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. The Colts have to keep rolling with the punches and figure out how to stop this leak of bad injuries before it becomes a full-on dam break as the regular season draws near.
