For the second straight day, the Colts have lost a player for the 2023 season. Defensive end Genard Avery requires season-ending knee surgery, and will be headed to IR (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
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Avery is dealing with an LCL/meniscus issue, Schefter adds. The news means he will once again end a campaign on injured reserve, having done so last year due to an abdominal injury. Avery joined the Colts in June in an attempt to catch on with another new team, but that veteran minimum agreement will need to be replaced by another next year for him to continue his career.
The 28-year-old has seen time both as a linebacker and defensive end. His most productive season came as a Browns rookie in 2018, where he recorded 4.5 sacks. 12 of his 17 career starts came with the Eagles in 2021, but that was followed up by a very short-lived Steelers deal. Pittsburgh released Avery ahead of roster cutdowns, leading him to the Buccaneers in 2022.
The former fifth-rounder was used sparingly on defense, but he was a regular on special teams. Third phase usage may very well have awaited him again in Indianapolis, a team which will depend in large part on the continued development of 2021 first-rounder Kwity Paye for edge rush production. Dayo Odeyingbo and free agent signing Samson Ebukam will also play a key role in the pass-rush department for the Colts moving forward.
After letting Yannick Ngakoue depart in free agency, though, the loss of Avery could open the door to a veteran depth addition. With the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn and Melvin Ingram still on the market, the Colts will have several options to choose from if they elect to try and replace Avery on the edge. With over $19MM in cap space, Indianapolis certainly has the spending power needed to make a move at the position.
Clowney’s off the board now, so Van Noy, Ingram, Dunlap and Quinn are now the top remaining edges in NFLTR’s rankings.