The Indianapolis Colts announced on Saturday that starting right tackle Braden Smith has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness, which ends his 2024 season.
The team also elevated veteran right guard Mark Glowinski to their 53-man active roster ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos.
Attending to an undisclosed personal matter, Smith last started a game for the Colts in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions (although Indianapolis did have a bye last weekend).
Whatever is going on, we’re hoping for the best regarding him and his family on a personal level—as it sounds serious. Smith is due a $19.75M cap hit next year (which is the last year of his current Indy contract), and this potentially places his future professional career with the Colts (and maybe elsewhere) in some doubt.
To close out the regular season, rookie Matt Goncalves will once again start in Smith’s absence. He’s made 3 consecutive starts for the Colts, and even started 4 of their last 5 games.
Per PFF, Goncalves has earned a +67.0 overall grade at offensive tackle during 13 games (4 starts) as a rookie.
Meanwhile, Glowinski had a really strong return to the Colts starting offensive line against the New England Patriots—helping to stabilize the right guard spot again. While Glowinski has always been regarded as a better run than pass blocker, he isn’t a sieve out there either.
It is a little surprising that the Colts didn’t just sign Glowinski to their active roster outright following his performance last weekend. That being, perhaps that’s just a mere formality.
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