Colts starting center Tanor Bortolini missed Wednesday’s practice session open to the media while wearing a brace on his right foot, ankle, and lower leg. The absence came amid ongoing roster adjustments and injury concerns affecting the team’s depth along the offensive line and other positions.
Bortolini, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, stepped into the starting center role last season when veteran Ryan Kelly was sidelined. He appeared in 12 games and made five starts as a rookie. With Kelly’s departure in free agency, Bortolini was named the full-time starter this year alongside new quarterback Daniel Jones. He started 16 of 17 games in 2023, sitting out only Week 17 against the Jaguars.
The Colts recently added depth at center by trading a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and a 2027 seventh-round pick. The deal was completed on August 30, the day NFL teams trimmed their rosters. Van Pran-Granger has limited experience, having played 217 offensive snaps over two seasons in Buffalo. More than half of those came during two Week 18 starts when the Bills had already locked in their postseason position.
The move responded to concerns that arose during training camp after the Colts lost backup center Danny Pinter to the Ravens in free agency. Indianapolis tried shifting veteran guard Dalton Tucker to center to support the team’s young quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard, who both struggled with handling snaps in practice. Tucker’s adjustment to center was described as difficult and contributed to ongoing issues.
Along with Bortolini, several other starters were not active during the media portion of Wednesday’s practice. Linebackers Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies, wide receiver Ashton Dulin, and edge rusher Arden Key all sat out. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Key suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s London game and would miss some time. Carlies is recovering from a rib injury sustained during the same game. Dulin, who had missed two games due to an ankle injury, aggravated a hamstring injury last weekend. Davis-Gaither was seen wearing a T-shirt, indicating limited activity.
On a more positive note, wide receiver Keenan Allen participated in practice Wednesday. The 34-year-old had been limited in last Thursday’s session with a groin injury and was ruled out for the Colts’ Week 4 game in London. Allen’s presence on the field suggests progress in his recovery.
The Colts continue to navigate a patch of injuries and positional shifts as they prepare for upcoming games. The status of Bortolini’s foot injury remains unclear, but his absence during practice adds to the team’s uncertainty at the center position. Van Pran-Granger’s recent arrival aims to ease these concerns, though his limited NFL experience puts pressure on the Colts’ offensive line depth.
According to Yahoo Sports.
