Colts starting defensive end Kwity Paye will undergo further medical testing on his injured quad, but remains optimistic.
According to the IndyStar’s Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Colts starting defensive end Kwity Paye is going to get MRI scans soon on his injured quad, but sounded ‘somewhat optimistic,’ following Sunday’s win against the Chicago Bears:
Kwity Paye says he’s going to get scans but sounded somewhat optimistic about the quad after the game.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) September 22, 2024
The Colts’ 2021 first round pick was forced to leave late during Sunday’s victory.
Specifically, on 3rd and 10, with 2:29 left in the 4th quarter, Paye suffered the quad injury and did not return in regulation. He couldn’t put any weight on his right leg and was escorted off the field by two Colts medical staff members to the sideline injury tent.
On the season, Paye has 12 tackles (9 solo) and 1.5 sacks during his first three starts.
Of course, with the Colts already without star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) and other starting defensive end Samson Ebukam (Achilles)—both of whom are on injured reserve, the Colts once deep defensive line depth is being sorely tested right now.
The team did sign backup defensive end Genard Avery from their practice squad earlier last week, but he was a healthy inactive again on game day for a consecutive week.
Paye remains the Colts’ best edge setting defensive end against the run—especially with Ebukam out for the foreseeable future. For a unit that woefully struggled stopping the run in their first two games, Paye’s loss would be a critical blow for a run stopping unit that finally rebounded on Sunday—and looked more like the d-line we’ve been accustomed to seeing.
