Colts’ COVID-19 vaccination rate reaches league low after roster cut-downs; half of offensive starters reportedly unvaccinated

Unless something changes quickly, COVID-19 could potentially ruin the Colts’ top-end potential for the 2021-22 season.

As COVID-19 issues continue to be the top storyline revolving around the Indianapolis Colts leading up to their regular season opener, The Athletic’s Zak Keefer dropped some new info on the latest One Percent Better podcast with fellow beat writer Stephen Holder.

According to Keefer’s latest intel, the Colts’ unvaccinated rate has climbed after the roster was officially trimmed to 53 players. When mentioning the Colts’ overall vaccination rate, here’s what Keefer has heard:

“It’s going to go down. I got that from someone who knows. By my count, half the starting offense is unvaccinated.”

Yikes, and these potentially season-altering decisions could be avoided. However, the Colts’ top players with leadership positions are dug in on their positions.

“These leaders of this team who are not vaccinated, I don’t get the sense they’re changing their mind anytime soon,” Keefer said.

So, Colts fans, prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to have a significant impact on the team throughout this season. Unless minds are changed within the locker room rather quickly, protocols and contact tracing will be a weekly occurrence for the Colts’ roster.

Entering final roster decisions as one of the worst teams in terms of vaccination rate, it’s fair to assume Indianapolis is now the worst in this category.

Players and individuals have the right to their own decisions. However, there’s a real possibility this will impact win-loss outcomes with such significant players who remain unvaccinated.