Peyton Manning is one of the few indispensable Colts. There is hope that he’ll be playing by the first game of the season despite recent surgery. But, in my mind, we have just lost the other indispensable Colt – Jeff Saturday. Mostly overshadowed by higher profile players, Saturday has done nothing but anchor a rock solid offensive line year after year after year. Now, he’s out with ligament damage to his right knee for at least 6 weeks, maybe longer.
Saturday, 33, has started every game — 59 straight including playoffs — since late in the 2004 season. In his absence, rookie Steve Justice likely will start at center.
Normally injuries don’t rattle my optimism, but Manning and Saturday can’t be done without. Hopefully I’m woefully underestimating Steve Justice and Manning will be back in action by the start of the season.
Yikes. A rusty Manning who will need to release the ball quicker than ever, yet has missed training camp. Probably need two guys in the backfield every play, with maybe Rhodes coming up and smashing at least one of the guys who will come pouring through our line every play.
We’ll figure it out, and still be better than average. Then hopefully we get him back about the time the rest of the league is wearing down, and have him for the playoffs.