The Colts can stamp their ticket to the playoffs with a win against the Chiefs on Sunday.
If they do, they expect to be able to celebrate with Chuck Pagano on Monday. Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star reports that the expectation in Indy is that Pagano will rejoin the team on Monday and remain with them for the rest of the season. Pagano has been pointing to that date for his return from time away from the team to battle leukemia that is now in remission and interim coach Bruce Arians said that plan remains in place when asked if he’s ready to be in the top job for the final time.
“Heck yes, I am,” Arians said. “Hopefully we can get this victory and secure our playoff spot and turn it back over to Chuck.”
Some have raised concerns that Pagano is trying to do too much too fast in his recovery from cancer by returning to work this season, but it’s pretty hard to offer any judgment on that decision without knowing all of the variables that go into this decision. We certainly hope he isn’t and imagine that all of the coaches will work together to make sure there isn’t too much on Pagano’s plate as he takes the next step in his recovery.