Marlon Mack‘s strong third season will be put on hold for a while. The Colts running back underwent surgery Monday, per Frank Reich, and will likely be out for at least multiple games. Mack suffered a hand fracture Sunday.
The procedure will sideline Mack indefinitely, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Although this is not believed to be a season-ending setback, it’s obviously a blow for the Colts.
One of many 2017 running back draftees enjoying quality seasons, Mack leads the Colts with 862 rushing yards. The former fourth-round pick has missed six games in his career, and this will almost certainly be his third season with at least two absences. Prior to departing Sunday, Mack rushed for 109 yards on 14 carries. He finished with a Colts-best 908 in 12 games last season.
Second-year backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, and recent practice squad back Jonathan Williams, will be called upon for key work against the Texans on Thursday, with the winner of that matchup set to take sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
While Wilkins has only 162 rushing yards, he’s averaging 6.1 per carry. Hines has worked as mostly a passing-down specialist, totaling 242 receiving yards. Williams received the bulk of the work when Mack went down, with the well-traveled ex-Bills fifth-rounder rushing for 113 yards against Jacksonville.
Any Colt fans have a feel for how the backfield will shake out? Obviously, Hines will have a third down role and probably the backup role but what about the other two? Assuming both play
wilkens should get 1st team reps IF his ankle is ready. decent chance with the Thursday game this week he wont be. I think Williams ends up getting the most rushes
Yeah unless wilkens is 100% I think on the short week they would roll with Williams given his last performance and it gives wilkens and extra week+ to get better and take the lead back roll given they might need him for quite a few games.