Breaking: Colts Receive Unwelcome News, Making Anthony Richardson’s Job Even Harder
The Indianapolis Colts offensive line was constantly beaten up by the Detroit Lions front in Week 12, and it was a major factor in their loss.
One of the best performers on their line was rookie center Tanor Bortolini. He has played great in relief for Ryan Kelly, who has had to miss multiple games this season, including his current stint on IR. Unfortunately, the team will most likely be without the talented rookie in Week 13 with the news of him entering the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Colts rookie Tanor Bortolini enters NFL concussion protocol
Colts head coach began the week by informing the media that rookie center Tanor Bortolini has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol by sharing the following statement.
” I’ll start off real quick. Tanor Bortolini, he came in this morning with concussion symptoms so he is currently in the protocol. As far as the other injuries go, we’ll have the medical meeting tonight and I’ll have more for you on other players Wednesday probably.”
With starter Ryan Kelly still having to miss at least one more week on the IR and Bortolini now entering concussion protocol, the Colts will be down to their third-string center. Luckily for them, longtime backup Danny Pinter is probably one of, if not the best, options in that spot in the entire league. Pinter has started games for the Colts at both center and right guard over the past few years, but it’s been clear that his best position is at center.
With the Colts, he’s slid down the depth chart to third due to the incredible play of the rookie Bortolini, who has been the team’s go-to when Kelly has had to miss time this season. He has played 349 snaps, 348 of them at center, with one at left guard. He has allowed zero sacks and only two QB hits and has been called for one penalty.
For Pinter, the last time he played on offense in the regular season was in 2022, after an injury stole his entire 2023 season, and he has only played on special teams this year. 2022 wasn’t a great year for Pinter as he was catapulted into the starting lineup but at guard instead of his natural position at center. He struggled and only started three games due to him allowing three sacks, three QB hits, and nine pressures during that span. So, with him returning to the field in Week 13, for Anthony Richardson’s sake, let’s hope he looks like the player who has played some pretty good football when asked to fill in at center during his career and not the most recent version of him we saw at guard.
