Colts’ Frank Reich sees progress from Eric Fisher (Achilles)

The Indianapolis Colts have been down three starters on their offensive line for the majority of training camp, and that includes free-agent signee Eric Fisher.

Despite undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn Achilles, the Colts signed Fisher to a one-year deal when was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. He opened up training camp on the PUP list.

His timeline for return isn’t clear yet, but head coach Frank Reich provided a bit of an update when talking to the media on Sunday.

“Yeah, I’ve seen him – just watching a couple of his workouts with our trainers working him out, I think he looks really good,” Reich told the media. “In fact, I saw him doing something the other day and I yelled over, ‘Put some pads on him!’ I thought he looked that good.”

The Colts still haven’t given a timeline for his return so it isn’t clear if the veteran left tackle will be making his debut during the preseason at all. There is still the chance he misses a game or two when the regular season starts.

Regardless, the Colts could use his services on the blindside. The offensive line is currently down All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson for an indefinite amount of time after he underwent foot surgery during the first week of training camp. Nelson’s timeline is also murky as he could return by Week 1 or miss a decent chunk of the first half of the season.

The unit has also been missing center Ryan Kelly, who suffered an elbow injury during the first week of practices as well. His injury is slightly less serious and is expected to be back within a week or two of this writing. Still, he’s missed the majority of camp thus far.

What Reich feels comfortable about Fisher is the fact that the veteran has shown a high determination to get back on the field as soon as he can.

“More importantly, just talking to him, he’s got – this sounds corny but I’m going to say it anyways – the eye of the tiger,” Reich said. “You can just tell this guy is locked in. That’s what’s most important to me, is that the player has a mindset of I have to fight to get back Week 1, Week 2, whatever it is. I just sense that the man is doing everything he can do to be back the very first day he can be back and not a second later. So that’s what I sense and feel from him.”

The Colts are still in a waiting game when it comes to seeing the debut of the new left tackle, but the hope is he will have the chance to at least get some work in before the Seattle Seahawks come to town for the Week 1 opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.