The Indianapolis Colts’ final injury report hasn’t been released at this time, but head coach Shane Steichen has announced that defensive end Genard Avery and linebacker Jaylon Carlies have been ruled out of Sunday’s game.
Neither player practiced at all this week. Avery is listed as having a foot injury, and Carlies a fibula and shoulder.
On Monday, Steichen said that Carlies was going to “miss some time” due to his injury.
Without EJ Speed against Miami, Carlies stepped into the starting role and was off to a fast start with five tackles, one of which was for a loss, while also recording a sack. He entered that Week 7 matchup as one of PFF’s highest graded rookies.
Speed has been a full participant during the first two practices this week. If we assume he will be available on Sunday against Houston, presumably Grant Stuard will slide into that third linebacker role when the Colts’ are in their base 4-3 defense–a role that did belong to Carlies.
Avery was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster earlier this season when the Colts were navigating injuries at defensive end. He was mostly been inactive on Sunday’s this season, playing only two defensive snaps against Jacksonville in Week 5.
Of note, with only Avery and Carlies being ruled out at this point, that does mean there is still the possibility that either–or both–Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner are available this week.
Steichen said after Friday’s practice that both are “tracking very well.”
