The good vibes permeating throughout the Indianapolis Colts after beating down their division rival Houston Texans in Week 6 are disappearing a bit due to more injury news they could've certainly done without. This time it involves starting safety Julian Blackmon, who joined the team in preparing for its coming battle with the San Francisco 49ers this weekend but will instead be sidelined until 2022. Blackmon suffered a torn Achilles in practice this week, the Colts announced Thursday, ending his 2021 season and creating yet another personnel problem in Indy.
They'll have to figure out how to fill his role going forward with only three safeties available in Andrew Sendejo, George Odum and Khari Willis. They could potentially look to promote Josh Jones from the practice squad and also have some added cap space after recently restructuring the deal on wide receiver T.Y. Hilton -- possibly making a free agency signing an option.
Blackmon is a former third-round pick of the Colts (2020) who entered the second year of his professional career as a key part of what they look to do defensively. He started the first six games this season and delivered 34 tackles with a forced fumble through that stretch after starting in 14 games as a rookie a year ago. And as he readies for months of rehab to hopefully return to form next year, the Colts must make decisions to try and avoid having a hole on the back end of their defense.
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