The Colts were awash in good news yesterday after a triumphant effort from quarterback Andrew Luck.
The news wasn’t as good today, when injury updates came in.
According to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star, linebacker Pat Angerer will miss at least six weeks with a fracture in his foot which will require surgery.
The loss of Angerer is a tough blow for the Colts run defense, which is in flux anyway as they convert to a 3-4 and try to turn rush ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis into outside linebackers. But Angerer was their leading tackler last year, and instrumental to the change.
Colts coach Chuck Pagano was confident he’d be able to return for at least part of the season.
“He has the respect of all those guys in the huddle,” Pagano said. “When you lose your signal caller, your middle backer for an extended period of time, it means a lot.
“The guy’s productive, he’s a playmaker, he’s a warrior. He’s a Colt. He’s got all the Colt traits you’re looking for. Now it will be up to somebody else to step in and fill that void until we get him back.”
Also, starting right guard Mike McGlynn suffered a high ankle sprain and backup linebacker Scott Lutrus was lost for the year with a torn ACL.
So it’s a good thing Luck’s putting up big numbers. They may need them.