Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard underwent a knee procedure last week and while the timetable for his return remains to be seen, there is a chance it extends into the regular season.
Even though head coach Frank Reich didn’t go into any specifics about the procedure Sheard underwent and how long he could potentially be out, the former did note that the recovery could force the 30-year-old defensive end to miss time during the regular season.
Sheard has been a constant contributor for the Colts ever since he signed a three-year deal during the 2017 offseason. Though his sack production hasn’t been high, he’s been a strong edge setter against the run while being an underrated power rusher.
The plan was to have Sheard set the edge on the opposite side of recently-signed Justin Houston, who joined the Colts on a two-year deal during free agency in March.
It isn’t clear how much time Sheard will need to recover but replacing him in the meantime will be Al-Quadin Muhammad, Kemoko Turay and second-round pick Ben Banogu. Competing for roles behind them will be sixth-round pick Gerri Green as well as Dadi Nicolas.
The Colts will be without one of their leaders on the defensive side of the ball and while we don’t know exactly how long, it appears there’s a chance it extends into the regular season.
