THE The restored Indianapolis Colts Ryan Kelly on their active roster Saturday after the former Alabama All-American center spent the last five games on injured reserve.
Kelly recovered from a knee injury in time for the final three games of the Colts’ regular season schedule. They could be the final three for Kelly in an Indianapolis uniform.
It’s nothing Kelly didn’t expect.
During the offseason, the Colts signed defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, linebacker Zaire Franklin, defensive end Tyquan Lewis, cornerback Kenny Moore, wide receiver Michael Pittman and defensive tackle Grover Stewart to contract extensions. But there was none for Kelly, as there had been in 2020, with the four-time Pro Bowler entering the final season of that contract.
“I knew it at the start of the season. » Kelly said. “…I didn’t get a contract extension, did I?” So, I mean, that’s how it is. You know, we don’t know when our time has come. I mean, the number of guys who are able to say that, that’s when I’m going away for that reason and I have all the control over that, is minimal to none. And I have no idea what my future holds. I mean, that’s the one thing I realized after losing my daughter, after going through season 22. I didn’t know if I’d be here in ’23, pro ball in ’23. It’s like I don’t know what happens in 25. Like, I have no idea.
“But I know this year, in terms of injuries, it hasn’t gone the way I wanted. But I can control what I can control. And I have potentially three games left as a Colt, right? So I’m going to play them as best I can and see how far the card remains after that.
Kelly returns with a Colts trip to the playoffs barely possible. At 6-8, Indianapolis missed its opportunity to become a more viable contender in its previous game – a 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos. Indianapolis needs to win its remaining three games to have any chance of making the playoffs, and that won’t be enough if the Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers pick up one more win each before the regular season ends .
“It’s disappointing, isn’t it?” Kelly said. “I mean, you know, the second half of the last game, right? I mean, you wish you had that back. But I think it’s one of those things. You get into football, you start getting into week by week, and you kind of get into your Monday and then your Tuesday. And even if the outside writes this, that and the other, your Wednesday is still the same. You have a choice if you can get better or worse on the field. And you have the opportunity to hug the guys around you, play with them for another game, play with them for another game, three more games, and cherish that moment, or just do it one little and say, you know. , well, whatever.
“I think you can look back and you have two choices in your career as to what you want to do. I think all the guys in the room and on the team realize there are still three games to go, so we’re going to give it our all. But definitely, yeah, I mean, it sucks when you’re a little bit away from making the playoffs again.
Kelly had hoped to be back from a knee injury for the game against Denver.
“The rehabilitation took a little longer than I thought,” Kelly said“but maybe it’s because I’m 31.” But the training team understood me well. The equipment staff, everyone busted their asses to get me. The same goes for me too, so I’m excited to go back.
Kelly had already missed two games this season, September 29 and October 6, with a neck injury. Then a knee injury placed him on injured reserve on November 5. Tanor Bortolini, a 2024 fourth-round pick from Wisconsin, replaced Kelly.
“It’s frustrating” Kelly said. “…The knee thing, it just flared up to the point where I mentally or physically couldn’t go through it another week. I thought cleaning up at that time was the best thing for me in my performance to help the team. Obviously, missing the two weeks there and then, you know, going on short-term IR was frustrating. Going into 9th grade, going into my final year of contract and not being able to help my team get on the field, right? So I think that’s the hardest part.
“But I think you saw the offensive line, we lost a few positions here and there, but I think you saw a lot of guys step up and do a great job. It’s really frustrating personally, but as a gym I think I’m really proud of how we all performed throughout the year. We haven’t played our best at times, but we always keep moving forward.
Indianapolis will still be without right tackle Braden Smith. The former Auburn All-American missed the previous two games and is out for the remainder of the season due to reserve/non-football illness with what the Colts called a personal matter.
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“Having experienced personal things myself,” Kelly said“I think it’s — you want to hear people, but I feel like sometimes you, as the other person on the other side, don’t want to be bossy, so give them some take out their space to do what they need to do, heal what they need to heal We’ve mentioned many times that we’re there for him, praying for him, whatever he needs in his journey, in the. his family’s trip, so he’s obviously a long-time brother of mine, and so he does what he has to do to get it right.
Kelly and his wife lost their daughter, Mary Kate, to a miscarriage in 2021.
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The Colts take on the Tennessee Titans in an AFC South game Sunday at noon CST at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. After that, the Colts will have the New York Giants on December 29 and the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 5 remaining on their regular season schedule.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
