Tag: Rigoberto Sanchez

Colts’ Rigoberto Sanchez confirmed to have torn Achilles

Rigoberto Sanchez has a torn Achilles.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez indeed has a torn Achilles, per a spokesperson with the team Wednesday.

This was the fear from the beginning when the news initially broke Tuesday following training camp practice. Sanchez tore his Achilles at the end of practice when the Colts were running sprints.

With Sanchez suffering the likely season-ending injury, the Colts will now have to take a look at the free-agent market for a punter.

If Sanchez does miss the entire 2022 season, he is expected to return for the 2023 season, which will be the final year of his current contract.

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Colts’ Rigoberto Sanchez suffered Achilles injury

Rigoberto Sanchez suffered an Achilles injury Tuesday.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez suffered an Achilles injury at the end of training camp practice Tuesday and will undergo further testing on Wednesday.

While Sanchez will undergo the further testing, the team is reportedly bracing for the injury to be a torn Achilles, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Sanchez, who is considered one of the top punters in the NFL, would miss the entire season if the injury is indeed a torn Achilles.

Sanchez joined the Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017 out of Hawaii and quickly earned his stripes. The Colts signed him to a four-year extension following the 2018 season, which ties him to the team through the 2023 campaign.

Replacing Sanchez won’t be easy, but the Colts will certainly have to find a new punter if the news is as bad they are preparing for.

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Colts’ 2022 training camp preview: Special Teams

Wrapping up our training camp previews with the specialists.

Indianapolis Colts training camp is just about here as the rookies are set to report Saturday.

Wrapping up the training camp previews will be the specialists on the roster. Two of them are locks to make the 53-man roster while two others will battle it out for one position.

Be sure to check out the other position previews ahead of training camp:

Without further ado, here’s our preview for the special teams unit:

Rigoberto Sanchez named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Rigoberto Sanchez was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in 2021.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his stellar efforts in the Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite the game being played in a mix of heavy rain and strong winds, Sanchez gave the Colts an edge in the punting game. That comes as no surprise given that he’s proven to be a weapon every week, but it was especially impressive amid the conditions.

Sanchez punted six times in the prime-time game for 273 yards (45.5 average) with a net average of 38.7 yards. Two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line while he recorded the longest punt in team history at 79 yards.

That record got a little boost from 49ers returner Brandon Aiyuk, who essentially kicked one of Sanchez’s punts 20 yards into the endzone for a touchback. Still, a record is a record.

This is the second time this season Sanchez has won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award with his other coming from the Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins.

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Studs and duds from Colts’ 30-18 win over 49ers

Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr lead the studs and duds from the Colts’ 30-18 win over 49ers.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-4) survived the torrential downpour and gale-force winds to come out with a 30-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers (2-4) on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

Due to the weather conditions, the game was largely flipped to a run-heavy script for both teams. The winds kept both quarterbacks from airing the ball out as much as they would have liked even though the Colts took more chances downfield than the Niners did.

Let’s take a look at the studs and duds from the Week 7 win in prime time:

Colts’ Rigoberto Sanchez named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Sanchez had a solid day punting the ball. He had four punts in the 27-17 win with a net average of 46.8 yards. Two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard-line without recording a touchback. His long of the day was 57 yards.

One of those punts that was downed inside the 20-yard line was muffed and recovered by Ashton Dulin.

Sanchez is enjoying another solid season punting for the Colts. He has 14 punts on the season with being downed inside the 20-yard line. He also hasn’t recorded a touchback through the first four games of the season.

The 2020 Ed Block Courage Award recipient after battling a cancerous tumor, Sanchez continues to be a weapon for the Colts on special teams.

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Stock up, stock down from Colts’ 28-24 loss to Steelers

Stock report from Week 16.

Despite being given the chance to control their own playoff destiny, the Indianapolis Colts (10-5) couldn’t hang on to a 17-point lead in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) in Week 16.

Now, the Colts have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars AND get some help from just one other team in the conference in order to make the playoffs. We detailed all the ways the Colts can make the playoffs in Week 17.

Before the final week gets here, let’s take a look at the stock report from the tough road loss against the Steelers:

Colts name Rigoberto Sanchez recipient of Ed Block Courage Award

Rigo gets recognized by his teammates.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was named by his teammates the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, the team announced Friday.

This should come as a surprise to no one given that Sanchez was battling cancer earlier this month. He wound up missing just 20 days despite having a cancerous tumor removed on Dec. 1.

Sanchez played through the diagnosis during the team’s Week 12 loss against the Tennessee Titans because he knew the Colts wouldn’t have enough time to find a replacement given the league’s protocols surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award is given annually by each team to a player who has shown courageous play. Every team nominates a recipient, all of which will be recognized at a banquet in March under typical circumstances.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected for this award, especially with the great men that we have in our locker room,” Sanchez said in a statement. “I’ve always admired the people around the league who have made the list and I’m blessed to be one of the 32 recipients this year. I’m thankful for everyone who categorized me for this distinguished award. Just know, to always keep going and be the change.”

Sanchez was playing at a Pro Bowl level before missing two games to recover from the surgery.

Recent winners of this award for the Colts include Jabaal Sheard (2019), Jack Doyle (2018), Clayton Geathers (2017) and Andrew Luck (2016).

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Colts release P Ryan Allen from the practice squad

Colts part ways with Ryan Allen.

The Indianapolis Colts released punter Ryan Allen from the practice squad, the team announced Monday.

This comes as no surprise given that Allen was a temporary replacement for Rigoberto Sanchez, who underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on Dec. 1. But Sanchez returned quickly and resumed his typical kickoff and punting duties in the Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans.

As Sanchez’s prognosis is very optimistic, the Colts didn’t feel the need to keep an extra punter on the practice squad,

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5 Colts to watch vs. Texans in Week 15

Keeping an eye on these Colts on Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) are back home at Lucas Oil Stadium to host the Houston Texans (4-9) for a crucial Week 15 matchup on Sunday.

Holding the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff race, the Colts are looking to make that final playoff push while the Texans are just waiting for January to get here. It’s a big game for Indy and the Texans are hoping to play spoiler.

Here are five Colts to watch in the Week 15 divisional bout: