WESTFIELD — Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason will coach the two remaining preseason games from the press box on the orders of head coach Shane Steichen.
Mason suffered multiple torn ligaments in his left knee when two players rolled up his leg on the final play of the Colts’ preseason tie against the Patriots. Indianapolis team doctors realized immediately that Mason was dealing with something significant.
But the Indianapolis special teams coordinator waved off the cart and walked off the field at Gillette Stadium, and he immediately returned to practice when the Colts were back on the field Saturday. From the sounds of it, Mason is not planning to have surgery on the joint.
“He’s pretty tough,” Steichen said. “Obviously, he’s back out here in a brace. I think, right now, he’s going to let that thing heal. He has some serious injuries, which is wild, but he’s going to be up in the box for these next two preseason games, just for precautionary reasons."
Mason has coached from the field the last two days, wearing a sizable brace on his left leg.
He is not using crutches or a knee scooter, and he hasn’t let the injury keep him from watching practice in his usual spots. When the kickers launched field goals Sunday, Mason was eight or so yards behind them.
When Steichen told Mason he had to coach from the press box, the special teams coordinator did protest.
“A little bit,” Steichen said. “But I said, ‘I am not taking that chance with you on the sidelines, even if you’re standing back too far on the sidelines. You never know what can happen down there.”
Mason will likely be back on the sideline as soon as he can.
Steichen wouldn't be surprised.
“He’s tough as nails."
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason will coach from press box after knee injury