Indianapolis Colts veteran center Ryan Kelly was officially listed on Friday’s final injury report as questionable as he works through a neck injury.
On Saturday afternoon, however, the team announced that they’ve downgraded Kelly to doubtful.
In addition to now listing Kelly as doubtful, so is Anthony Richardson, and the team also added Sam Womack to the injury report.
Kelly hasn’t practiced since the Wednesday before the Colts’ Week 4 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that includes missing the game as well.
With Kelly in the middle and setting the pre-snap protections, the Colts have had one of the best offensive line units this season, ranking fifth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency and second in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric.
In Kelly’s place will again be fourth-round rookie Tanor Bortolini, who made his NFL debut against a very good Steelers front and was able to impress.
Pro Football Focus credited Bortolini with only one pressure allowed in 35 pass-blocking snaps, while running back Jonathan Taylor averaged 4.0 yards per rush running to Bortolini’s right and 4.7 yards per attempt running to Bortolini’s left.
On the schedule this week for the Colts’ is a Jaguars defensive front that is allowing just 3.9 yards per rush, which is the sixth-best mark this season, and a unit that ranks 21st in pressure rate on the opposing quarterback.