Former Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher could return for first time since Achilles injury

Former K.C. Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher looks like he’s on the verge of returning to the field for the first time since he went down with an Achilles.

According to Zak Keefer, who covers the Indianapolis Colts for the Athletic, Fisher’s first game of the year might come this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, although nothing yet is set in stone.

It’s not hard to picture an alternate universe in which the Chiefs are the team waiting for Fisher’s return from an Achilles injury that happened at the worst possible time, in the fourth quarter of the team’s conference championship win over the Buffalo Bills to claim another AFC title. The injury not only took out Fisher, the team’s best remaining offensive tackle, before the single biggest game of the year—Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—but it ensured his recovery would also cost him playing time the following year.

The Chiefs ultimately decided to wipe the slate clean at both offensive tackle spots rather than roll with injury concerns at both positions—remember Mitchell Schwartz was also out for an unknown amount of time due to a back injury. That left Fisher looking for new employment for the first time since the Chiefs selected him at No. 1 overall out of Central Michigan in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, was very familiar with Fisher’s play after years spent with the Chiefs front office, so it wasn’t surprising when the Colts decided to sign him as a potential answer for their own issues at left tackle. The primary concern was the waiting game and not knowing when Fisher would be ready (or how he might look at first given the nature of the injury).

On Sunday, we might begin to find out. Early projections had Fisher potentially coming back for the start of the season but it was also possible he could miss much more time. If he’s available and even showing average play by Week 2, that’s a tribute to him and his efforts in recovery.

The Colts host the Rams at 12:00 p.m. C.T. on Sunday afternoon.