Colts' Rigoberto Sanchez will punt Sunday, two weeks after having cancerous tumor removed
INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Frank Reich delivered some heartening news Friday afternoon: Rigoberto Sanchez is scheduled to punt for the Indianapolis Colts Sunday against the Houston Texans — two weeks after having surgery to have a cancerous tumor removed.
“We’re so happy he’s had a good week and got up to speed really quickly,” Reich said. “We’re confident and excited he’s slated to be back in the lineup.”
The Colts punter learned he had cancer on Nov. 25, but elected to play in the Colts' game against Tennessee game four days later.
Sanchez, who has declined to identify the location of his tumor, knew that because of COVID-19 protocols, the Colts likely wouldn’t have been able to find a replacement punter. When doctors told him he couldn’t make his situation any worse, he decided to play.
“I wasn’t going to do that to my team,” he said. “At the end of the day, it (already) was the worst-case scenario. No need to make it a bigger deal than it is.”
Sanchez enjoyed an excellent game, averaging 50.8 yards per punt, but it was an emotionally taxing day.
“I just had that sick feeling to my stomach," Sanchez said. "I had a couple moments (pregame) to myself where I couldn’t hold (my emotions) in.”
Sanchez had surgery a couple of days later and has been avidly cheering on his team from home these past two weeks, calling himself the team's "No. 1 fan" while he was away.
Sanchez doesn't know for sure whether he is cancer free, but that's the hope, he said. He believes his doctors caught the cancer before it spread and that things are trending in the right direction.
Sanchez returned to Colts practice this week and appears to be ready to resume duties as the team's punter and kick-off specialist.
Veteran Ryan Allen filled in for Sanchez the past two games, punting six times with an averaged distance of 46.0 and a net distance of 36.7. For the season (31 punts), Sanchez averaged 47.2 yards per punt with a net distance of 40.6.
While Reich ruled no one out for Sunday’s game, he did say tight end Mo Alie-Cox (knee) and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) are questionable. Starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo (MCL) also was listed as questionable on the team's official injury report, though he was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday.
Buckner's injury is a concern. The star defensive tackle appears to have hurt his ankle this week in practice. He was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and was out of Friday’s practice entirely.
The Colts have played only one game without Buckner this season, and it was a defensive disaster. While Buckner, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was not the only important piece of the defense missing against the Tennessee Titans, running back Derrick Henry ravaged the Colts for 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 45-26 win. Those 45 points were the most Colts have given up this season.
The Texans don’t have anyone like Henry on their roster, but if Buckner has to miss his second game this season, the Colts will have a better Plan B with Autry back in the lineup. Autry started at 3-technique tackle for the Colts the past two seasons and offers a far better alternative than moving 1-technique tackle Grover Stewart out of position, which is what the Colts tried against the Titans.
Still, the Colts know they aren't as formidable a unit without Buckner wreaking havoc up the middle. When defensive leader Justin Houston was asked to compare what it was like to play with Buckner and without him, he laughed.
“I think it speaks for itself," Houston said. "He’s a hell of a player. There is nothing he can’t do. His length, his size, his speed, how much ground he makes up in the run and pass game. He’s a force to be reckoned with.”