Indianapolis Colts
Until Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts faced one of the most daunting challenges before a game even began. Cornerback Charvarius Ward left after suffering a concussion when he collided with teammate Drew Ogletree before the game. The accident wounded Ward from playing indefinitely. It rattled the ship as the staff and roster got set to play the Arizona Cardinals. Things only got worse when quarterback Anthony Richardson went down with an orbital fracture. This relatively serious injury necessitated a hospital stay and sent him to the sidelines for the game.
The accident happened as they performed their usual warmup drills at the home stadium. Ward’s collision with Ogletree knocked both players down and they required on-field medical treatment. Consequently, Ward spent an excessive amount of time on the field. After a few minutes he got help and was carried to the locker room. The incidents left players in an uproar, with players appearing shaken by the surprises and disappointments that awaited them.
Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said there was an eerie feeling in the locker room after the players’ injuries. It was a strange day, not gonna lie to you,” he said. His words spoke for his teammates, awash in fear for their fallen brothers.
Franklin was candid as well about the emotional cost of constantly losing core players. “Losing two guys that you depend on. Anthony, we depend on him in a pinch. And obviously, Ward, losing those guys pregame was tough,” he said. Though she acknowledged the seriousness of the circumstances, uppermost in Franklin’s mind was the need to keep one’s eyes on the prize. “It got to a certain point where, in the locker room, you see guys just whispering about what happened to the point where you’re like, ‘Hey, we’ve got a job to do.’”
Running back Jonathan Taylor echoed Franklin’s sentiment, admitting, “There was something in the air today.” He described the intense pressure and expectation in the air as they made their way onto the field. Quarterback Daniel Jones referred to everything leading up to the game as a “whirlwind.” He urged them to remember that in the world of professional sports, everything can turn on a dime.
The Colts came into the game with a decimated secondary. In any case, the injuries to Ward and Richardson only augmented their struggles as they grew more desperate. Colts’ coach Shane Steichen said Richardson’s injury was severe enough to require a hospital stay. He added some bad news — Richardson is officially out for Saturday’s game against Arizona.
In spite of all this adversity, the Colts came together and pulled away with a gritty win, overcoming the Cardinals 31-27. This win was a huge victory for Indianapolis. In the process, they made Arizona the first team this season to score more than 23 points on what was the fourth ranked scoring defense in the Nation going into Week 4.
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