Whether it was dealing with inconsistent production or dealing with a knee injury, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri endured what is likely going to be his worst season in the NFL.
Over the span of 24 seasons, Vinatieri set a career-high in missed kicks (14) and was only able to play 12 games. The trend started early in the season, but the Colts felt it was right to stick by the future Hall of Famer.
Now that the season has ended, head coach Frank Reich still believes the Colts made the right move when it came to keeping Vinatieri on the field as long as he was healthy.
“I wish it would’ve worked out better numbers wise. But when I look back on it – I think I am being pretty honest with myself – given all the factors, given his history, given what we were seeing out at practice and given the fact that he started out a little bit slow and got into a little bit of a groove for three or four games, he had earned it,” Reich said Monday. “I think he had earned it and I think he had earned the right to play that thing out until the end with the injury. So no I don’t have any regrets on it.”
The entire league has been dealing with a kicking problem for the last few seasons. It wasn’t just the Colts in 2019. But Vinatieri’s decline—whether due to injury or otherwise—came about extremely quickly and proved to be a major detriment to the team.
Vinatieri’s struggles weren’t the only reason the Colts wound up missing the playoffs, but even Reich admitted it was understood that the 47-year-old’s lack of consistent production hurt the team.
“It goes without saying that any missed kick, missed throw, missed block or missed tackle hurts the team. So yes, that is understood,” said Reich.
Vinatieri just underwent knee surgery to repair the injury that forced him to the injured reserve list. The Colts signed Chase McLaughlin to a one-year extension on Monday so there is a chance Vinny’s time in Indy is over.
It would be in the best interest of the team to move on from Vinatieri this offseason, but the Colts still feel they made the right choice early in the season to stick by the veteran.