Colts Place Captain on IR, Rookie to Start

An Indianapolis Colts star is heading to injured reserve in the middle of the season.

Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (78) talks with Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson (56) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. / Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Indianapolis Colts announced they have placed nine-year center Ryan Kelly on the injured reserve listed before a Week 10 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The move comes after Kelly has lingered on the injury report for the past few weeks.

We have claimed S Darren Hall off waivers (from Arizona) and placed C Ryan Kelly on IR.

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 5, 2024

To fill his place in the starting lineup, the Colts will be starting rookie center Tanor Bortolini. Drafted in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft, Bortolini has started two games along the offensive line this season. He was chosen out of the University of Wisconsin and may be the future replacement for Kelly when he chooses to leave the team.

Kelly has started in seven games for the Colts this year and has dealt with both Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco taking snaps at quarterback. The 4x Pro Bowl center first missed Weeks 4 and 5 with a neck injury, then sustained a calf injury against the Tennesee Titans. Now that he has landed on IR, he will miss at a minimum the next four weeks.

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Before Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Kelly talked to the press about a conversation he held with Richardson regarding his "tap-out" against the Houston Texans. He told reporters that it wasn't the "standard" for the team but that nobody should question how hard he plays on the field. After that statement, Kelly had a poor performance against Minnesota, posting a 50.1 Pro Football Focus blocking grade.

#Colts C Ryan Kelly on QB Anthony Richardson subbing out:

“We had a conversation about it, I think he knows that’s not the standard … He’s gonna take some criticism for that, rightfully so.”

“But if anyone ever questions how hard he plays, I don’t think that that’s the case.” pic.twitter.com/NGFmEzwzUP

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 29, 2024

Bortolini will be snapping the ball for Flacco in the final stretch of the season as an inexperienced blocker will get to learn from a veteran playcaller. In his few snaps, Bortolini has shown flashes of being a capable lineman who protects the pocket well.

Overall center grades from PFF in 2024

Ryan Kelly: 26th (16th pass/29th run)

Tanor Bortolini: 18th (5th pass/21st run) https://t.co/2kkJ7MJjUz

— Landon Oliver (@Landon3MR) November 5, 2024

The team also announced they have claimed safety Darren Hall from the waiver wire. Hall spent time with Indy's practice squad last season. His last action was with the Arizona Cardinals, though he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round in 2021.

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