The 4-4 Indianapolis Colts will travel to Minneapolis to face the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night for their ninth regular season game. One crucial matchup to monitor throughout the game is the Vikings’ defensive line, which ranks in the top five in pressures (1st), hurries (1st), quarterback hits (1st), and sacks (T-5th) vs. the Colts’ offensive line, which ranks as the 6th-best O-line unit in PFF’s Week 9 rankings.
The Colts’ offensive line will be shorthanded for their Sunday night game since their key starter is dealing with an injury.
The Indianapolis Colts star LT suffered a head injury
Star left tackle Bernhard Raimann started in their Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans and played every snap, but little did he know that he sustained a head injury. Raimann began experiencing symptoms of a concussion on Monday and entered the concussion protocol on the same day. His head injury jeopardizes his chances of playing in their primetime game.
He will not play
Bernhard Raimann did not participate in Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday’s practice and will not clear the concussion protocol on time. On X, the Colts announced that Raimann is out for their primetime game against the Minnesota Vikings. He will miss his first game of the 2024 season, a devastating blow to their offensive line.
Per Coach Steichen, T Bernhard Raimann has been ruled out for #INDvsMIN.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 1, 2024
Who starts in his stead?
The expectation is for Matt Goncalves to start at left tackle. Goncalves played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers and started 24 games with the team, including 11 starts at LT and 13 at RT. He competed with Blake Freeland for the swing tackle job and won.
If Goncalves doesn’t get the nod this week, expect the Colts to turn to Blake Freeland. Freeland, their fourth-round pick from last year’s draft, has more starting experience than the rookie. In his rookie season, he started nine games, including two starts at LT and seven at RT.
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