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Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kemoko Turay is eligible to return from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list following the team’s Week 7 bye, but it remains to be seen if that’s when he will make his debut.
Turay has been on the PUP list since the season started, which required him to miss the first six weeks of the season. With the Colts have a bye in Week 7, it gives Turay an extra week to make his return.
Head coach Frank Reich told reporters Monday that Turay is making progress, but that it may be too early to say if he will be ready for the Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions.
“Making good progress, he’s another guy that I would put in that list. I didn’t mention his name, but making good progress,” Reich told the media. “We’ll see after the bye whether he’s ready for Detroit or not. I’m not sure about that yet, but he’s making good progress.”
Turay showed immense promise during the first half of the 2019 season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a tough blow to the pass rush, especially since Turay was showing so much promise.
According to Pro Football Focus, Turay had 14 total pressures on 69 pass-rushing snaps. That pressure rate was among the highest in the league at that point.
The Colts have enjoyed a nice uptick in pressure rate as a whole thanks to the addition of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. But if Turay can continue on the path he was on before the injury, it would provide a massive boost for the Colts.
The edge has been solid with veterans Justin Houston and Denico Autry while Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyquan Lewis and Ben Banogu mix in behind them. But Turay gives the Colts both speed and bend when running the arc, something Indy doesn’t have too much of right now.
It still isn’t clear when Turay will return, but he’s eligible to return when the Colts come back from the bye so it will certainly be a situation to monitor.
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