Indianapolis Colts’ Receiver Donte Moncrief Out for 4-6 Weeks
By Kyle Nishida
Indianapolis Colts receiver Donte Moncrief suffered a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos. Today, the team announced that the injury will sideline Moncrief for four to six weeks.
Moncrief fractured the scapula in his left shoulder in the first quarter against the Broncos. Luckily for the Colts and Moncrief, this injury will not require any type of surgery.
The Moncrief injury puts the Colts’ offense at a huge disadvantage. Combined, Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton are one of the NFL’s top receiving duos. The team now needs to find someone who can replicate Moncrief’s presence on the field.
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Colts’ second-year receiver Phillip Dorsett will replace Moncrief at the No. 2 receiver spot. Dorsett currently leads the team with the most receiving yards (124), but only has five receptions.
With Moncrief gone, he needs to be a more available receiving target because opponents are going to load coverage toward Hilton. The Colts used a first round pick on Dorsett in 2015. It is time for the young receiver to finally play up to that first round standard.
Also, Quan Bray and Chester Rogers could see their team roles expanded. Both guys have been used sparingly on offense and primarily on special teams. With Moncrief’s injury, Bray and Rogers become the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers respectively.
The Colts also signed Devin Street off of the Patriots’ practice squad earlier this Wednesday. He will occupy the Colts’ No. 5 receiver slot.
Moncrief’s injury is just another name the Colts can add to their long list of injuries this season. Cornerbacks Darius Butler and Antonio Cromartie also left the game with injuries against the Broncos.
Week 1 starters Trent Cole, Patrick Robinson and T.J. Green did not even play Sunday because they were too banged up. Also, the Colts’ top defensive backs Clayton Geathers and Vontae Davis are just returning from injury.
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The Colts have a couple of winnable games coming up. However, the loss of Moncrief will make those contests much more challenging.
It will be interesting to see how the Colts’ offense will adjust without Moncrief because the offense looked inconsistent with him in the lineup.