The Indianapolis Colts got some good news at the offensive tackle position with Bernhard Raimann returning for their Week 13 matchup with the Patriots.
However, on the opposite side of the line, right tackle Braden Smith has been ruled out.
Raimann suffered a knee injury early in the Colts’ Week 10 matchup with Buffalo. He would miss the next two games and returned to practice this week where he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday, making him good to go for Sunday’s game.
Raimann has provided a steady presence at left tackle this year, building upon his strong 2023 season. Overall, Raimann ranks 23rd in pass-blocking efficiency out of 79 eligible tackles and 19th in run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith did not practice at all this week and is out due to a personal matter. Without him available, the Colts could move Matt Goncalves to right tackle with Raimann now back. The majority of Goncalves’ career snaps at Pittsburgh came at right tackle, for what it’s worth.
Blake Freeland could be another option if the Colts don’t want the rookie jumping from one side to the other, but since training camp, Goncalves has clearly been ahead of Freeland on the depth chart.
Over the last two games starting at left tackle, Goncalves has surrendered only two combined pressures, but has struggled to generate steady push in the run game.
Regardless of how the Colts configure their offensive line, they need better play from this unit if the offense as a whole is going to find more consistency.
For several weeks now, the run game has had issues getting going between the tackles, penalties were a major problem this past week, as was the pass protection, with Anthony Richardson under regular pressure from Detroit.
