A long road for Robert Mathis finally lands him back in a Colts uniform tonight.
Mathis suffered a torn Achilles while working out on his own during a four-game suspension last year. His presence for the Colts’ Monday night game vs. the Jets marks his first game since Jan. 11, 2014, in a playoff loss to the Patriots.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Mathis needed to have 10 surgical procedures over the last year to prevent infections and ensure that his Achilles healed correctly. While it’s understandable that the Colts played it safe with Mathis through camp and held him out last week, he’s had no known setbacks or complications over the last several weeks.
A fifth-round pick in 2003 who’s played his entire career with the Colts, Mathis has 111 career sacks. His career-best 19.5 sacks led the NFL in 2013.
Even if he’s not the same player at 34 and off a year-plus absence, the Colts think he can get to opposing quarterbacks and boost a defense that hopes to be playing with a lead and coming after the passer more than it’s not.