The Colts have been dealing with a variety of injury concerns at tight end this summer, but there’s good news on two fronts for them on Monday.
Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports that tight end Dwayne Allen will start taking “monitored reps” at practice for the team this week. Allen recently shed the boot he was wearing to protect his injured foot and this week’s work will be the next step in getting him ready for the start of the regular season. Allen probably won’t play in any preseason games, but that’s a price the Colts will be more than willing to pay if it means he’s in the lineup when the games count.
Wells also reports that Coby Fleener, the other tight end the Colts drafted and made good use of last season, got a positive medical report after an MRI on the knee he injured against the Colts on Sunday night turned up no structural damage. He’s expected to miss a few days, which should also keep him on track to play in the opener.
Given Fleener’s previous concussion, the Colts will surely hope that this is the last round of medical news involving their tight ends for a while. The Colts offense gives Allen and Fleener plenty to do and it will work better for all involved if they’re actually around to do it.