Colts assistant reveals coaching plan after suffering brutal knee injury during preseason game

Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason does not expect his latest left knee injury to keep him away from the sideline when the regular season begins. Mason suffered multiple ligament damage during the final play of Indianapolis’ preseason opener against the New England Patriots after two players rolled into him near the sideline.

Despite the injury, Mason returned to the field for the Colts’ next practice and has not missed a day of work. He is coaching from the press box for the remainder of the preseason but plans to return to his normal sideline position when Indianapolis opens the regular season versus the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.

“Before New England, I was a coach with a really bad knee that will someday need a knee replacement,” Mason said on Monday. “After the New England game, I am a coach with a really bad knee that still someday needs a knee replacement.”

Mason also does not plan to undergo surgery because of the latest injury. He described his knee as one that already needed a future replacement before the collision and said that remains the case after the latest setback.

The injury is the seventh major issue Mason has experienced with his left knee. He tore the ACL twice while playing running back at Zionsville High School and suffered two more ACL tears during his college career at Denison. The second college injury ended his playing career after doctors determined he could no longer pass a physical.

Mason later suffered another ACL tear in 2012 while playing basketball at Butler. In 2021, while working on landscaping, he sustained another serious injury to the same knee. He now avoids taking unnecessary risks with landscaping, but his coaching responsibilities require him to remain active on game days.

During Colts games, Mason works closely with long snapper Luke Rhodes and punter Rigoberto Sanchez on punt decisions when Indianapolis is backed up. He also communicates with the personal protector about snap counts and works with the gunners on potential punt-return looks.

When the Colts move the ball and reach kicking situations, Mason shifts his attention to the kickers. He also makes adjustments during kickoff and kick-return situations, making his sideline presence an important part of his responsibilities.

Mason is entering his fourth season as Indianapolis’ special teams coordinator after joining Shane Steichen’s staff in 2023. Before that, he held the same position at Notre Dame in 2022 and Cincinnati from 2018-21. His coaching career began at Denison after his playing career ended because of his knee.

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