Frank Reich on Colts’ COVID-19 outbreak: ‘It can be any minute for anybody’ – IndyStar

GLENDALE, Ariz. The first text message that hit Frank Reichs phone on Christmas morning seemed like good news.

A Colts team that had been losing starters for three consecutive days due to positive COVID-19 tests initially had a clear report on game day.

And then all of a sudden, we werent good, Reich said.

The second text message hit hard. Indianapolis was forced to put All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard, wide receiver Zach Pascal and strong safety Khari Willis on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the same place the Colts put All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, guard Mark Glowinski, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, defensive end Kemoko Turay and practice squad tight end Farrod Green earlier this week.

An Indianapolis franchise that had avoided a major COVID-19 outbreak for the better part of two seasons suddenly has one on its hands.

It can be any minute for anybody, Reich said. Well be ready for whatever we have to do, and well hope for the best, but every teams going through it. Every team has the same thing. Thats why nobody was making a big deal about it. Just look around the league. Its going all over the place. Were just going to have to play the hand were dealt and find ways to go win games.

Reich is right that the virus is wreaking havoc on the NFL during the stretch run to the playoffs.

The Colts are now the 15th team, out of 32, to put at least seven players on the reserve/COVID-19 list since Dec. 8, in large part, the NFL believes, because of the presence of the omicron variant. Three games were postponed last week because of roster issues stemming from spread within a team building. In that sense, Indianapolis is facing something the rest of the NFL is facing right now.

Its tough, especially with both sides, the NFC and the AFC, the playoff race is close, Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. I just feel like the teams that can handle the COVID-19 situation are going to be the ones that are going to be able to pull out and get into the playoffs. … You saw us today. We had key players out. Its all about your depth.

An outbreak could be more costly to the Colts because the team is one of the least vaccinated teams in the NFL. Under the leagues modified rules, an unvaccinated player who tests positive must sit out 10 days before returning to the team; vaccinated players may return to the team if they post two negative tests 24 hours apart, or if the viral load in their system gets below a certain threshold. Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin tested positive on Monday last week, then was cleared in time to play against the Patriots without missing a game.

Depending on the date of the positive test, unvaccinated players can miss up to two games. Leonard, for example, missed Saturday nights 22-16 win over Arizona and will reportedly miss next weeks game against the Raiders because of his positive test, regardless of symptoms.

When the news came down that the Colts had lost three more starters, Indianapolis had to scramble at all levels, from coaching staffs editing their playing rotations and packages to players trying to get their teammates ready to play a completely different role.

We had seven, eight hours to get guys ready, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton said.

Indianapolis, like all teams, had to make adjustments on the fly, and likely will have to make adjustments on the fly the rest of the way. The three Colts placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday morning were already in Arizona; Indianapolis must make separate arrangements for them to get home, away from the team.

As many players as the Colts were missing Saturday night, Indianapolis has avoided the toughest task teams have been forced to navigate in recent weeks: An outbreak in the quarterback room.

A handful of teams have already been forced to start their third option or an emergency option, the ultimate task to overcome. Colts starting quarterback Carson Wentz is unvaccinated, and although Indianapolis currently has four quarterbacks in the building, the three backups rookie Sam Ehlinger, veteran journeyman Brett Hundley and practice squad quarterback James Morgan are not established quarterbacks in the NFL.

Whatever happens, the Colts are resolved to deal with absences in one way.

Everyone going out there today has practiced every one of those plays a million times, Reich told his team on Saturday. Theres no excuses, theres no explanations. … Lets just go perform.

The Indianapolis depth held on Christmas night against Arizona, and the Colts now find themselves likely needing to win just one of their two remaining games to lock up a playoff spot. If the teams COVID-19 outbreak continues and depletes the Colts again, Indianapolis will have to lean on its depth to finish what the Colts have started.

Obviously, a special shout-out to Chris Ballard, Reich said. We gave him a game ball in there, because when you get on a day like this, and you need everybody on the roster, you thank the man who put it together.

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Frank Reich on Colts' COVID-19 outbreak: 'It can be any minute for anybody' - IndyStar