The Indianapolis Colts announced on Saturday ahead of the team’s Week 11 matchup with the New York Jets that right tackle Braden Smith has been downgraded to questionable for a personal matter.
Indianapolis is already without left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who was ruled out on Friday with a knee injury, as well as Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, both of whom have been on injured reserve.
This has left the Colts to rely on three rookies with Matt Goncalves at left tackle, Tanor Bortolini at center, and Dalton Tucker at right guard.
Now if Smith can’t go, the already shorthanded Colts offensive line would likely have to rely on Blake Freeland at right tackle.
Freeland was a healthy scratch during the first handful of games this season. He competed with Goncalves this summer for the swing tackle for but was beat out by the rookie.
Last season, with Smith missing time due to injuries, the Colts leaned heavily on Freeland, who was a rookie at that time, with him playing 701 snaps. He finished the year ranked 80th out of 86 offensive tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric.
Awaiting the Colts’ offensive line is a Jets’ front that will enter the game ranked ninth in pressure rate, according to Pro Football Reference, and features, Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle and Will McDonald at defensive end, whose 39 pressure ranks among the most this season.
Whether it be Smith or Freeland, the Colts right tackle will likely see quite a bit of Haasan Reddick, who primarily lines up on the left side of the defensive front.