Carson Wentz Will Miss The Colts Game Against The Raiders In COVID Protocols

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the NFL’s hottest teams, winning six of their last seven games, most recently taking down the Cardinals on Christmas to move to 9-6, allowing them to control their own destiny in the playoff hunt.

They are a game back of the Titans for the AFC South division title, but tied with the Patriots for the fifth and sixth wild card spots in the AFC. Two wins in their final two games would guarantee the Colts a playoff berth, and with the Raiders and Jaguars remaining on the schedule, they figured to be favored in both. However, this Sunday they will have to face the Raiders, by far the tougher of the two, without starting quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz was placed into COVID protocols on Tuesday, and as an unvaccinated player he cannot test his way out of protocols and will not be able to possibly return by Sunday.

That is a significant deal for the Colts and a lot of other teams in the AFC playoff hunt, including the Las Vegas Raiders, who are one of the four teams tied at 8-7 and chasing that final wild card spot. The Colts will likely turn to rookie Sam Ehlinger in Wentz’s absence, which is far from the ideal circumstance for a team hoping to lock up at playoff berth this weekend.

While Jonathan Taylor and the Colts rushing attack is by far their biggest strength on offense, having the threat of the pass that Wentz provides is critical to keeping the box at least a bit lighter for Taylor and the Colts O-line to go to work. That won’t be there with Ehlinger and the Raiders figure to load up to slow down Taylor on Sunday. Should Vegas be able to win against a Wentz-less Colts, it will create an even bigger logjam in the AFC, one Indianapolis was really hoping to avoid being in entering Week 18.