Indianapolis Colts pass-rusher Robert Mathis may be nearing the end of the line as a productive, healthy NFL player.
It was a crushing blow, both for the soon-to-be 34-year-old linebacker and for the Colts team, when it was announced in early Sept. that he had torn his Achilles tendon while working out away from the team during an NFL-imposed suspension.
Mathis has since been rehabbing in an effort to return for next season, but it was revealed Saturday by ESPN's Mike Wells that Mathis recently suffered a setback in his return to health.
"I was told Robert Mathis didn't re-tear his Achilles (there were some rumors about that), but he did suffer a slight setback," wrote Wells, in response to a readers question about Mathis's timetable for return. "The road to recovery for him is a long one because he's no longer in his mid-20's. Mathis will be 34 years old on Feb. 26."
Mathis, who finished the 2013-14 season with 19.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles, was suspended the first four games last year due to a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs - he claimed it was a misunderstanding based around an unfortunate decision to take fertility drugs aimed at helping he and his wife conceive a child.
The questionable explanation for a positive drug test combined with his suddenly frail nature certainly raises the specter of illegal performance enhancing drug use for Mathis.
But that's beside the point.
With Bjoern Werner not yet living up to his high draft billing - despite GM Ryan Grigson's lame assertion otherwise - and Mathis unable to be counted on moving forward, the Colts, Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano will need to focus on adding pass-rushers this offseason, whether via the 2015 NFL Draft or free agency, if they're to reach the postseason again next year.
