If you watch the full interview, it’s clear to see that Eric Fisher is still trying to work through the emotions of the last few months.
Fisher, the former long-term left tackle for the K.C. Chiefs, played 1,049 snaps last season as Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector and held down an offensive line that was otherwise beset by injuries to nearly every other starter involved. Yet after the grueling rigors of such a long season, he suffered an Achilles injury shortly before his team would take the field for their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
Shortly thereafter, the Chiefs had a tough call to make with both Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, the team’s starting right tackle. Both players were facing questions concerning their injuries and rehabilitation, and the Chiefs were already in need of several moves along the offensive front. Instead of crossing their fingers with veteran performers, the team went younger this offseason and underwent a complete rebuild across the line. In the process, the Chiefs decided to part ways with Fisher after eight seasons in K.C.
These days, Fisher is with the Indianapolis Colts and hopes to help ease the loss of Anthony Castonzo, who decided to retire in January. Fisher recently spoke to reporters with the Colts about his injury and release from the Chiefs.
Eric Fisher recently spoke about the difficulties of his injury and release.
“Sitting up in the stands, it was tough to watch, to know that the quarterback that I was protecting was running around there. It was tough to watch. I like being a consistent player, so to not be available to do that job for my team, it was tough. It just makes me want to get back and stay healthy and just continue to play high level football for a team.”
The injury wasn’t the only hard part. Not only did Fisher have to face the reality of rehabilitation, but he would soon do so without the security and familiarity of being at Arrowhead in this process. Within just a few weeks, Fisher was not only injured but unemployed when just a short time earlier, he was starting at left tackle deep in the postseason for the AFC’s top team. When asked if it was difficult to face his release, Fisher responded with an obvious “yes”.
“Yeah, you spend eight years with a team and do a lot with a team… obviously nobody likes being fired, but it’s part of the game. It’s a business that requires you to be healthy, but I’m looking forward to kind of overcoming that obstacle and hurdle that I was dealt.”
Fortunately for the Colts, Fisher was not only playing very good football before he was injured but he still feels like he has plenty left in the tank. The Colts signed him for only a year, so Fisher should be plenty motivated to prove he’s healthy and can anchor the front line again.
“I’m not going to critique myself, but I thought that I was playing at one of the highest levels I’ve played at. One of the things that drove me nuts about that injury was where I was at in my career… injuries you can’t control. It’s part of the game. It’s something that happens. It is what it is, but it was a pretty big bummer to be a 1,000-plus snaps deep into the season and have that happen when you’re so close to the trophy there. But it is what it is. It happens. It’s life.
“As soon as I got the call I was being cut, it was like an automatic reset in my brain where of like I’m nowhere near being done. I’ve got a lot of years left in me.”