Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts’ Owner Jim Irsay and outside linebacker Robert Mathis disagree on when the 11-year veteran can return from his Achilles injury. Mathis believes he can come back at the start of training camp, while Irsay believes he will not be ready until later in camp. It might be best for the Colts and Mathis if they go with what Irsay wants.
No one can know a player’s body better than the player himself, but the franchise sometimes needs to protect the player from himself. Mathis admitted that his Achilles was healing slower than he thought back in February. He is also 34 years old. Mathis may feel he can be ready to go by camp, but the Colts do not and should not want him back until they are 100 percent certain.
The good news for the Colts is it is not a matter of if Mathis will come back but a question of when he will return. The Colts could really take advantage of bringing Mathis back slowly. Outside of Mathis and new outside linebacker Trent Cole, the Colts are not totally confident in the starting capabilities of their other pass rushers.
The Colts could really use the extra first-team reps for guys like Bjoern Werner, Jonathan Newsome and Erik Walden. This will allow the Colts to build the quality of their depth at the pass rushing positions, which was seriously lacking last season. If the Colts can develop one of these guys early in camp, it will have big rewards late in the regular season.
Also, the Colts do not need Mathis this early in camp. Obviously, they want him to get some snaps before the season opener, but the Colts have a long-term goal of winning the Super Bowl. They do not need to give Mathis reps immediately at the start of training camp. They can bring him back closer to their preseason opener.
When Mathis is ready to go in camp, the team should slowly work him into the rotation. This way Mathis can give you 25-50 snaps by the season opener. By Week 4, the Colts can make him the primary outside linebacker and then he will be playing his best by midseason. It is more important for Mathis to be playing well later in the season rather than early on.
Regardless of how the Colts decide to manage Mathis, they need him to be in his dominant 2012 form by midseason if they want to make a serious Super Bowl push.
