Injuries Piling Up for Indianapolis Colts After Vontae Davis Suffers Concussion

The Indianapolis Colts were widely expected to be one of the few true Super Bowl contenders to come out of the AFC when the 2015 season began, but the Colts have gotten roughed up in their first two outings.

They've also gotten banged up, which is a concern for a team looking to shake off an 0-2 start to the season.

Indianapolis had star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton in Monday night's 20-7 loss to the New York Jets, but he didn't appear to be completely over the knee injury he suffered in Week 1. Indianapolis didn't have cornerbacks Greg Toler and Darius Butler when the game started, which put the team at a big disadvantage.

Losing top cornerback Vontae Davis to a concussion mid-game put Indianapolis at an even bigger disadvantage because that meant the team was playing without its top three cornerbacks. Not so coincidentally, Jets receivers Brandon Marshall (101 yards and a touchdown) and Eric Decker (97 yards and a score) each had a field day.

Injuries were only one factor in Monday's loss, and the Colts know that.

"Five turnovers, 11 penalties, 0-for-5 on 3rd down in the 1st half. Shorthanded, we understand that but that's the NFL," head coach Chuck Pagano said after the game, per Nat Newell of the Indianapolis Star.

However, injuries are the one thing from the game that could continue to hamper Indianapolis' season.

Davis' injury is a big blow to a secondary that is thin and thinning at the cornerback position. Last week, the team sent rookie corner and second-round pick D'Joun Smith to temporary injured reserve.

Other players who left with injuries on Monday night include tight end Dwayne Allen and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. 

Losing a home opener in embarrassing fashion is one thing, but losing key players along the way is a disastrous break for the Colts. This is a team that was supposed to offset its suspect defense with an unstoppable offense.

Through two games, the Colts have scored just 21 points. 

That's last in the NFL.

So the Indianapolis offense hasn't been as good as advertised. This isn't reason enough to panic, and neither is the 0-2 start. The Colts started last season with the same record and reached the AFC title game. 

What is cause for panic is that an already flimsy defense is being decimated by injuries. Hilton will continue to get healthier, and the Colts can probably survive without Allen for a few weeks if necessary. However, any extended time without Indianapolis' top three cornerbacks and most productive linebacker could spell disaster.

Indianapolis' next two games come against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. Falling to one or both of the AFC South foes now seems like a real possibility, especially if the Colts can't get healthy.

The Colts follow the two looming division games with a Week 6 matchup against the New England Patriots. By the time that game is over, Indianapolis could be even more bruised and battered and looking up at other teams in the AFC South. 

Winning the division no longer looks like a lock for the Colts, and early-season injuries are a big part of the problem.