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          NFL Nation

          Mailbag Part I: Which injured player concerns the Colts the most?

          • Mike Wells, ESPN Staff WriterApr 25, 2015, 08:00 AM ET
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            • Previously worked at Indianapolis Star, covering the Indiana Pacers for nine seasons
            • Also covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press
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          Mike Wells: It’s the same player GM Ryan Grigson and owner Jim Irsay have talked about recently: right tackle Gosder Cherilus. Cherilus dealt with an assortment of injuries, including knee and shoulder, last season. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Colts select a tackle at some point in the draft, possibly even in the first round, because there hasn’t been definitive date set on when Cherilus will return to the field. Grigson said they’re hoping for June if not sooner. The goal, as it is for every team, is to protect the quarterback. A healthy Cherilus will help make that happen.

          Wells: They’ll likely have to trade up to get Collins because I don’t see him being on the board when the Colts pick at No. 29. Irsay mentioned safety and right tackle as positions they want to look at. Grigson will have to be aggressive and move up the board in order to get the former Alabama safety.

          Wells: They would do it without any hesitation. The Colts would dramatically improve their pass rush if they were able to land Ray or Gregory. Ray finished with 14.5 sacks last season at Missouri and Gregory had seven sacks at Nebraska. That’s the good news. The bad news is that both of those players likely will be gone by the time the Colts pick at No. 29.

          Wells: It’ll likely be tough for the Colts to re-sign both tight ends, but there’s no guarantee they’ll lose one of them. Allen, who has better all-around skills than Fleener, has to show that he can remain healthy. He’s missed 18 games over the past two seasons. The best-case scenario would be for Allen to be healthy all of next season, allowing the Colts to have one of the best tight end duos in the league, then figure out a way to re-sign both players.