Trent Cole Injury: Updates on Colts LB's Status and Recovery

The Indianapolis Colts placed linebacker Trent Cole on injured reserve Tuesday after he suffered a back injury against the San Diego Chargers in Week 3. He is likely to have surgery, and it is unclear how long his recovery process will take.

Continue for updates.

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Pagano Comments on Cole's Injury

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said Cole aggravated the back injury against the Chargers and will likely need to have a procedure to repair the injury, per Mike Chappell of Fox 59.

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What Cole's Injury Means for Colts

The 33-year-old veteran missed the Colts' Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos, and he recorded just three tackles and no sacks in the two contests he appeared in this season.

The former fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati spent the first 10 years of his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, registering 85.5 sacks in that time frame and being named to the Pro Bowl on two occasions.

He signed with the Colts prior to the 2015 campaign and ended the year with 32 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Indianapolis is tied for 21st in the NFL with just four sacks through three games, and Cole's absence will force it to dig even deeper into its reserves to find an answer in that regard.

Veterans Robert Mathis and Erik Walden will likely be tasked with picking up much of the slack, while Akeem Ayers should have an increased role as well after the team signed him prior to the start of the regular season.

Cole had undoubtedly lost a step in comparison to his level of play when he was one of the NFL's best pass-rushers, but his mere presence on the field commands attention from opposing offensive lines. Losing that will have a negative impact on Indy's defense as a whole.

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