The Indianapolis Colts had to place tight end Eric Ebron on the injury reserve list Monday after he decided to have a procedure done to repair an ankle injury that has existed since training camp.
Head coach Frank Reich told reporters in a conference call on Monday that Ebron first had the ankle issue in training camp but it never got to the point where it was limiting him in practice or games.
However, the ankle injury popped up again, and Ebron decided the best route would be to undergo the procedure. This led to him being placed on the injured reserve.
“Before last week I was not aware that there was anything significant. I know there was a time in training camp – before training camp I think he had a scan. To the best of my knowledge the scan was fine. I’m not saying it was 100 percent clean but it was nothing that was limiting him in practice,” Reich said. “We talked with Eric (Ebron) through it. This is the decision that Eric – he just felt like he was out of position with how it was feeling to him and this is what he had to do.”
Even with Ebron not having a major impact in the offense like he did during his career campaign in 2018, he was one of their biggest mismatches when game planning for a defense. His absence will surely be noted during the stretch run.
The 26-year-old is in the final year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March 2020.
The Colts will miss his abilities as a pass-catcher but will have to move on quickly during the final five games of the season as they push for a playoff spot in the AFC.