League suspends Mathis

Colts LB Robert Mathis will miss the 1st 4 games of the regular season after violating the league policy on PED use.  That takes the 2013 league leader in sacks away from a needy Colts defense and IDP owners.  Mathis heads into his age-33 season coming off a career-high 19.5 sacks and a career high-tying 8 forced fumbles.  The suspension will obviously push him down the 2014 IDP rankings, but Mathis should remain a valuable contributor after he returns.  The Colts possess no exciting replacement from a fantasy perspective.

Colts HC Chuck Pagano told reporters after Sunday's walkthrough that OLB Robert Mathis will open training camp on the PUP list. "It would be stupid on our part just to say, ‘OK, hey you’re healthy, you’ve been cleared, throw him to the wolves,’" Pagano said, per Scout.com. "We have to be very, very smart with Robert." Mathis is 34 and coming off a torn Achilles' tendon. We'll be quite curious to see how soon he gets activated and whether he can begin the regular season as a full-time player. We'd bet on at least some sort of rotation and don't expect the vet to jump back to his pre-injury double-digit sack status. You'll find very modest expectations for Mathis in our 2015 IDP rankings. We'll see if he can show something this summer to alter that outlook. Any missed regular-season time for Mathis could only help the upside of OLBs Trent Cole and Jonathan Newsome.

ESPN Colts reporter Mike Wells reports that Colts LB Robert Mathis suffered a "slight setback" in his rehab from a torn Achilles' tendon. It's not clear whether the issue will delay or hinder his return. At the least, however, it's a reminder that Mathis faces a tough comeback from what can be a career-altering injury even in younger players. Heading into his age-34 season, don't count on Mathis returning to his top sack form of 2013. The Colts will certainly need to address their pass rush this offseason.

Colts GM Ryan Grigson revealed Friday that he doesn't yet know whether OLB Robert Mathis will be ready for the start of training camp. "No, he's still in recovery," Grigson told ESPN.com in reference to Mathis' Achilles tear. "A timeline is not there because it’s a tough injury. Hopefully in a couple months from now, we’ll be able to have some information on that.” Mathis suffered the injury in early September while working out during his 4-game PED suspension. It's an injury that regularly keeps players from getting all the way back to their previous performance level through at least their 1st season back. Heading into his age-34 season, Mathis might never regain his pre-injury form. Bjoern Werner had an up-and-down season that ended down with decreased playing time. Fifth-round rookie Jonathan Newsome might be the Colts' best current hope for replacing Mathis and helping a struggling pass rush. Expect the team to address that area this offseason.

Already serving a 4-game PED suspension, Colts OLB Robert Mathis will now reportedly miss the rest of the season.  Pro Football Talk reports that Mathis suffered an Achilles' tendon tear while working out on his own in Atlanta.  It's a huge blow to a Colts D that struggled against Denver in Week 1.  Mathis' 19.5 sacks last year led the NFL and constituted 46.4% of the team's total.  Bjoern Werner and Erik Walden started at OLB for the Colts against the Broncos, and each earned negative pass-rushing grades from Pro Football Focus for the game.  Don't consider Indy's team D a real matchup option in your fantasy football league.

Colts pass rusher Robert Mathis is questionable for Thursday night's clash with the Jaguars because of a back injury. It forced him out of the Week 9 win early and has kept the veteran from practicing all week. Jerry Hughes would figure to go in Mathis' place if the starter can't play. Mathis has a sack in every game he has played this year, so he's worth a shot if active against the Jags -- unless we hear that his playing time will be limited.