bernhard raimann – Syndication Server

Colts OT Bernhard Raimann estimated as non-participant in first Week 11 practice

Indianapolis Colts’ OT Bernhard Raimann was estimated as a non-participant in the team’s first Week 11 practice.

Indianapolis Colts’ left tackle Bernhard Raimann was estimated as a non-participant in the team’s first Week 11 practice ahead of their matchup with the New York Jets.

With the bye week still a few weeks away, rather than having a normal Wednesday practice, the Colts held a walkthrough instead–hence the estimation of each player’s status.

Raimann would exit the Colts’ contest on Sunday with Buffalo in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. He ended up playing only 13 snaps.

As of now, we do not have any more specifics on Raimann’s injury or what his potential availability could look like the rest of the week. However, it did seem plausible that at least one day of practice could be missed when the Colts signed an offensive tackle to the practice squad on Tuesday to bolster the depth of the position during practices.

Sunday’s game against the Bills was Raimann’s first game back after missing the week prior versus Minnesota with a concussion.

Overall, Raimann has had a good season for the Colts, building off of a strong sophomore season in 2023. Out of 79 eligible tackles, he ranks 23rd in pass-blocking efficiency and 26th in run-blocking grade.

Without Raimann, the Colts are leaning on left tackle Matt Goncalves. In his two appearances the last two games, Goncalves has been credited with allowing six pressures and three sacks, according to PFF, along with being penalized once.

In Sunday’s game specifically, it was Goncalves who was beat by Bills’ edge rusher Greg Rousseau on the play where the ball was knocked out of Joe Flacco’s hands and resulted in a fumble recovery for Buffalo.

Awaiting the Colts this week is a Jets’ defensive front that will enter Week 11 ranked 12th in yards per rush allowed at 4.3 and ninth in pressure rate.

Indianapolis Colts OT Bernhard Raimann exits game vs Bills with injury

Indianapolis Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann exited Sunday’s game against Buffalo in the first quarter with an injury.

Indianapolis Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann exited the game against Buffalo following the team’s third offensive possession.

According to the team, Raimann is questionable to return with a knee injury.

Raimann would miss last week’s game against Minnesota while in concussion protocol. He returned to practice this week as a full participant all three days and was cleared to play on Friday.

With Raimann out for the time being, rookie Matt Goncalves will step in at left tackle. Against the Vikings, in his first NFL start, Goncalves gave up three pressures, including a sack, but graded out well as a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics.

With Goncalves in the game, he is now one of three rookies along the Colts’ offensive line in this game. Tanor Bortolini is at center for Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve and Dalton Tucker remains at right guard.

Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Colts

The Tennessee Titans need some help at offensive tackle, making this an easy target to grab off the Indianapolis Colts’ roster.

The Tennessee Titans will be back on the field attempting to maintain their momentum when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Colts’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades.

Much like the Titans, the Colts have a young and inexperienced quarterback in Anthony Richardson and are building the roster around his talents. Like Titans quarterback Will Levis, he suffered an injury in Week 4 and may not play.

In many ways, these teams are similar. The Colts have a talented roster and there are some intriguing players to choose from. Back-up quarterback Joe Flacco appears to have again beaten Father Time and running back Jonathan Taylor is as dynamic as they come. However, Taylor is battling an injury and the Titans quarterback situation is better than some perceive.

The real problem is the right side of the offensive line, specifically right tackle where head coach Brian Callahan tabbed a week-to-week competition on who plays. If we had our way, we would solve that issue with young offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann.

A third-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft from Central Michigan, Raimann transitioned from tight end to tackle in college and is still developing. He plays left tackle for the Colts but has shown enough athleticism to slide over to the right side.

At 6-foot-6, 307 pounds, he is an explosive run blocker and, most importantly, an outstanding pass blocker and consistently grades near the top of the Colts’ PFF rankings.

Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was better against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 but has been a liability on the offense. With the team still attempting to discover what they have in Levis, they must protect him and Raimann would definitely do that. Not only would he be a tremendous upgrade over Petit-Frere, but he would also be an outstanding bookend to JC Latham on the offensive line.

What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Bernhard Raimann or steal an entirely different player from the Indianapolis Colts?

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Colts’ Bernhard Raiman in ‘receiving votes’ category of ESPN’s top OT rankings

Execs, coaches and scouts helped ESPN rank the top 10 OTs in 2024. Not included were the Colts’ OTs but Bernhard Raimann did receive some votes.

With the help of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler ranked the top 10 offensive tackles ahead of the 2024 season. Neither Bernhard Raimann nor Braden Smith made the cut, but Raimann was in the “receiving votes” category.

Below is a look at what went into this ranking process:

“Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, nearly 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed help us break any ties.”

At the top of Fowler’s list was Trent Williams, followed by Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil, Tristan Wirfs, and Lane Johnson.

After a rock-solid rookie season in 2022, Raimann made that crucial developmental jump that many successful players make during his sophomore NFL season.

According to PFF, Raimann would surrender four sacks and 34 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, he would rank 20th in pass-blocking efficiency and 12th in run-blocking grade.

There were a few factors that Raimann contributes to his leap in 2023, including the experience he’s gained since entering the NFL, the continuity he’s had on the left side of the offensive line lining up next to Quenton Nelson, and his work ethic.

“One of the hardest working guys I’ve been around,” said Ryan Kelly during minicamp. “I think truly that left tackle position I think, above and beyond everybody else, can be a little detailed, micro-oriented.

“I think for him, what he’s really trusting is his athletic ability, which is a big thing for him. He hasn’t played football since he was a little kid, so it’s been a short time compared to most.”

Not included in ESPN’s rankings was Colts’ left tackle Braden Smith. Injuries would limit Smith to only 10 games last year, but when on the field, he remained very effective.

Smith wouldn’t allow any sacks and he ranked sixth in pass-blocking efficiency, all while never quite being at 100 percent. With Smith on the field, the Colts averaged 4.6 yards per rush compared to just 3.9 yards per carry when he was out.

Smith would undergo “successful” knee surgery this offseason. He didn’t participate during OTAs or minicamp, and a timeline for his return hasn’t been announced, but Smith says he’s in a “pretty good spot.”

“Coming out of the offseason, had successful surgery,” said Smith when meeting with reporters earlier this offseason. “Had some stuff, you know, did some rehab this offseason, feel like I’m in a pretty good spot. Strength is coming back. Just making sure I can get through the season healthy and make sure we’re being smart with things.”

Colts’ Bernhard Raimann, Braden Smith ranked among CBS Sports’ top 20 OTs

The Colts’ Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith were ranked among CBS Sports’ top 20 offensive tackles heading into 2024.

Indianapolis Colts’ left tackle Bernhard Raimann and right tackle Braden Smith made an appearance on CBS Sports’ ranking of the top 20 offensive tackles entering the 2024 season.

Smith would come in at No. 10 on the list and Raimann at No. 14. The Philadelphia Eagles were the only other team to have both their tackles ranked in the top 14.

Smith would deal with lingering injuries last season that limited him to only 10 games. However, despite never quite being at 100 percent, Smith continued to play at a high level.

When starting, Smith didn’t surrender any sacks in 2023 and ranked sixth among all tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric. With Smith, the Colts’ offense averaged 4.6 yards per carry but only 3.9 yards per rush when they were without him.

Smith underwent “successful” offseason knee surgery that has him in a “better spot” heading into the upcoming season. Smith was not on the practice field during offseason programs, and a timeline for his return hasn’t been specified.

“Coming out of the offseason, had successful surgery,” said Smith during OTAs. “Had some stuff, you know, did some rehab this offseason, feel like I’m in a pretty good spot. Strength is coming back. Just making sure I can get through the season healthy and make sure we’re being smart with things.”

After a strong rookie season from Raimann in 2022, he made another significant jump during his sophomore NFL season. Raimann would give up four sacks and 34 pressures, ranking 20th in pass-blocking efficiency and 12th in run-blocking grade out of 50 eligible tackles.

The experience gained over the last two seasons has played a crucial role in Raimann’s growth, and there is the opportunity to make another developmental leap this season. PFF had Raimann as a member of their All-Breakout team for the 2024 season.

In addition to that experience allowing Raimann to get comfortable with his role, the continuity along the offensive line and his outstanding work ethic have been two other key contributors to his growth.

In addition to Smith and Raimann returning, the Colts will have their entire starting five along the offensive line back this season. Not only at the tackle position but as a collective group, the Colts are expected to have one of the best offensive line units in football.

Colts’ LT Bernhard Raimann makes PFF’s ‘All-Breakout Team’ for 2024 season

PFF went position by position putting together its ‘All-Breakout Team’ for the 2024 season, and at LT selected the Colts’ Bernhard Raimann.

Pro Football Focus recently went position-by-position, picking one player from each group to have a breakout season in 2024. At left tackle, PFF chose the Colts’ Bernhard Raimann, who is coming off of an impressive sophomore season.

Raimann played 1,012 snaps for the Colts last season, surrendering just four sacks and 34 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Raimann ranked 20th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and 12th in run-blocking. His pass-blocking grade from PFF was also the ninth-best among tackles.

“One of the hardest working guys I’ve been around,” said center Ryan Kelly during training camp. “I think truly that left tackle position I think, above and beyond everybody else, can be a little detailed, micro-oriented.

In addition to his work ethic, the experience that Raimann has gained over the last two seasons, playing over 1,700 snaps during that span, has been crucial to his growth, allowing him to adjust to the play speed of the NFL and, in general, getting more comfortable with what he’s asked to do.

“You get more comfortable with the O-line because you’ve just bonded over the years and you have some great memories and you build some great relationships with those guys,” Raimann said.

“But also, you get used to more of the speed and we have great defensive linemen that we go up against every day. We’re lucky to be able to compete against them every day. But you do get used to it more and more and then you can focus on yourself more.”

Raimann also mentioned the continuity along the offensive line, specifically lining up next to Quentin Nelson, has been an important factor in his development as well because of the communication and leadership elements Nelson brings along with knowing exactly where he’s going to be on any given play.

While all eyes will be on quarterback Anthony Richardson and the playmakers around him, as GM Chris Ballard said prior to the draft, success begins in the trenches with blocking and protecting.

Along with Raimann, the Colts are returning all five starters from a unit that in 2023, ranked top 10 in yards per rush and pass-blocking efficiency. In ESPN’s recent rankings, the Colts offensive line was listed as the fourth-best overall unit.

Colts OT Bernhard Raimann one of the hardest workers Ryan Kelly has been around

Colts offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann has been one of the “hardest working” players that Ryan Kelly has been around.

Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly had some high praise for left tackle Bernhard Raimann, calling him one of the “hardest working” players that he’s been around.

“One of the hardest working guys I’ve been around,” said Kelly after Wednesday’s minicamp practice. “I think truly that left tackle position I think, above and beyond everybody else, can be a little detailed, micro-oriented.

Raimann was an elite athlete coming out of Central Michigan in 2022. He recorded a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score of 9.87, which included a 5.05-second 40-time, along with a 4.49-second shuttle time and 9-09 broad jump.

That athleticism shows up vividly in Raimann’s game, with his ability to operate in space and remain in an advantageous position compared to the pass rusher. It also helps make up for some of the technical aspects of the position that Raimann is still learning, as Kelly alluded to.

After a strong rookie season, Raimann took that year-two leap that many successful NFL players make. In 2023, he gave up four sacks and 34 pressures, ranking 20th out of 50 eligible tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency and 12th in run-blocking grade.

“I think he’s done a great job maximizing everything he does when he comes to the field, taking coaching,” said Kelly. “I know he’s talked to (Anthony) Castonzo for a little while and just working every day to get better. Again, that builds confidence and builds confidence going into the season.”

The experience that Raimann has gained over the last two seasons, along with the continuity of playing next to All-Pro Quenton Nelson, have been the catalysts behind his development.

In addition to Raimann and Kelly, the Colts will return all five starters from last year’s offensive line unit that ranked top 10 in yards per rush and pressure rate allowed. It wasn’t only Raimann who made a big jump last season, but so did the Colts’ offensive line as a whole under Shane Steichen and Tony Sparano.

“I think after the ’22 season, Tony came in, saw that room for what it was, and it was still a lot of great players but not a lot of confidence,” said Kelly, “and I think there’s a lot of multitude of reasons for that. So when he came in, the first day that we came in last year around this time, it was not even about football Xs and Os, it was about real personal stuff.

“Guys get into that because if you can’t build a relationship in there, then how can you build it out there? And I think that was a good part for us to trust Tony to trust us. And also, he just empowered us to go play. I think that starts with Shane, starts with Tony, starts with Jim Bob. Is to just go out there and play, and just trust our technique, trust that we’re great players and play together.”

Understandably so, much of the attention will be focused on Anthony Richardson and the playmakers around him, but as GM Chris Ballard mentioned this offseason, step No. 1 for consistent success on offense begins with blocking and protecting, which the Colts are very well-equipped to do at a high level.

Colts OT Bernhard Raimann on Laiatu Latu: He’s going to be an ‘impact player’

After a few weeks of practices, Colts OT Bernhard Raimann can see why defensive end Laiatu Latu was the first defender taken in the draft.

With OTAs now wrapped up and mandatory minicamp beginning this upcoming week for the Colts, left tackle Bernhard Raimann has had the opportunity to see Laiatu Latu on the practice field, and he can see why Latu was drafted so high.

“Now, these last couple of weeks, like getting into Phase 3 now,” said Raimann, “actually getting into football, you can see why he got drafted so high. Why he was the first defensive guy taken.

“He’s highly skilled. He’s quick, he’s strong, and I think he’s going to make an impact immediately. But you can still see he’s learning every single day, and a mistake he made last week, he’s not making this week. I think he’s definitely going to be an impact player.”

GM Chris Ballard agrees with Raimann, calling Latu a “polished” player who should make a quick impact for the Colts.

Latu comes to the NFL after being of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football for two seasons, totaling double-digit sacks and 60-plus pressures each of the last two seasons. In 2023, Latu led all edge rushers in PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric.

Although the Colts’ defense would total the fifth-most sacks last season, Latu’s presence will add some needed consistency to a pass rush unit that ranked 22nd in pressure rate and 23rd in total pressures. In order to duplicate that level of sack production in 2024, the Colts likely need to get after the quarterback with more regularity.

“He’s a great guy,” added Raimann. “Like meeting him in the locker room, he was just happy to be here. You just love to see that as a vet–just someone who appreciates being a Colt and loves being here and loves working out.”

The battles on the practice field this summer between the Colts’ defensive front and their offensive line should be one of those ‘iron sharpens iron’ situations, which hopefully results in improved play all around.

On defense, the Colts’ front should be extremely disruptive this season, with Ballard continuing to invest heavily in that group. Along the offensive line, the Colts return all five starters from a unit that ranked top-10 in yards per rush and pressure rate in 2023.

Over the years, the game of football has certainly changed, but one core principle remains true: if you can control the line of scrimmage, you can control the game, and the Colts are set up well to do that on both sides of the ball.

“We have great defensive linemen that we go up against every day,” said Raimann. “We’re lucky to be able to compete against them every day.”

Continuity and experience leads to growth for Colts OT Bernhard Raimann

Colts’ left tackle Bernhard Raimann took a big step last season, with continuity up front and the experience gained being the catalysts.

Last season, the Colts needed Bernhard Raimann to take that Year 2 leap that so many successful NFL players make, and the sophomore left tackle delivered.

Following a strong rookie season in 2022, Raimann would play 1,012 snaps for the Colts in 2023. In total, he gave up four sacks and 34 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Raimann ranked 20th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and 12th in run-blocking grade.

“He’s taken the next step in his pass protection stuff and the run game, both run and pass,” said Shane Steichen after Thursday’s practice. “And Tony (Sparano), our O-line coach, has done an excellent job with him.

“But I think with any young player, the more you play the more you learn, and just getting those reps over and over again. But he’s really settled into his own, and it’s really good to see.”

As Steichen mentioned, a key contributor to Raimann’s development has been the reps he’s gotten at the NFL level. Experience is the best teacher, after all. Over his first two seasons, Raimann has played over 1,700 snaps, helping him adjust to the speed of the game and, in general, become more comfortable.

“You get more comfortable with the O-line because you’ve just bonded over the years and you have some great memories and you build some great relationships with those guys,” Raimann said.

Another important factor in Raimann’s growth has been the continuity that the Colts have had along the offensive line, specifically for Raimann, being able to line up next to an elite guard in Quenton Nelson.

“That’s just huge,” said Raiman of playing next to Nelson. “The communication on the field, for me personally it’s huge because I’m right next to him, but his leadership as a whole for the entire offensive line, and just the consistency.

“I know where he’s going to be in pass protection, I know how he’s going to step in the run game. I know how I have to fit in double-teams with him to move the defensive tackle, and that just makes my game that much easier.”

Naturally, much of the attention this offseason was around adding an additional playmaker or two to the offense to help Anthony Richardson. The Colts were able to check that box in the draft by selecting AD Mitchell in the second round.

Now, understandably so, with OTAs underway, much of the attention is on Richardson and his return to the practice field. However, as GM Chris Ballard discussed prior to the draft, consistent success for a young quarterback, and therefore the offense as a whole, begins in the trenches. As Ballard put it, “block and protect” is step No. 1.

A strong run game keeps the offense out of predictable passing situations and opens up the playbook for Shane Steichen, while time in the pocket on passing plays, as we know, can often lead to success by picking a defense apart.

In addition to Raimann and Nelson on the left side, the Colts will be returning all five starters from an offensive line unit that ranked top 10 in yards per carry and pressure rate last season.

Highlights from Colts OT Bernhard Raimann’s OTA media availability

Following Thursday’s OTA practice, Colts’ OT Bernhard Raimann met with reporters. Here are the highlights from the conversation.

Following Thursday’s OTA practice, the second of which was open to the media, Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann spoke with reporters.

In case you missed it, here are the highlights from that conversation. To watch the full interview, click here.

– Entering Year 3, Raimann said he approaches the game from a different perspective. He mentions that the chemistry is different with the players around him and being comfortable with the speed. Raimann adds that he feels really comfortable and found a home in Indianapolis.

– Raimann speaks to how the continuity up front has helped with his development, along with being able to compete in practice every day against a very good defensive front. The more reps you get, the more comfortable you become.

– Raimann talked about the importance of having teammates, coaches, and family to lean on, in addition to the work he puts in on his own. “If you can’t keep your mentals strong then the physical can’t hold up out on the field.”

– Raimann on Laiatu Latu: “You can just see why he got drafted so high,” said Raimann. “He’s highly skilled. He’s quick. He’s strong, and I think he’s going to make an impact immediately.” Raimann adds that Latu is quick to correct any mistakes.

– “That’s just huge,” said Raimann of playing next to Quenton Nelson. He also mentions Nelson’s communication, consistency, and leadership that he brings to the offense. “That just makes my game that much easier.”

– Raimann on Anthony Richardson: “AR, he was always working. Even last year, he never lost touch with the guys. He was in here, he was working, he was in the training room. He did everything he could to get back.” Raimann adds that Richardson looks “phenomenal.”