Matt Hasselbeck is so beat up for the Indianapolis Colts that he hasn’t been able to eat solid foods this week.
The Indianapolis Star says Hasselbeck, who has taken over at quarterback for the Colts since Andrew Luck suffered a lacerated kidney in Week 9, has only been eating foods like oatmeal and yogurt due to a sore jaw.
The jaw injury is the latest in a long line of soreness, cuts and bruises Hasselbeck has racked up in the past few weeks. The 40-year-old quarterback was banged up so badly that Charlie Whitehurst saw action at times in the team’s last two games, both losses. Despite the jaw injury that has affected his diet and the litany of other injuries such as those to his back, neck and ribs, Hasselbeck says he will not sit out games.
“I think (about) who I want to be to the guys in this locker room and the example you want to set,” Hasselbeck said of his leadership, via the Indy Star. “I mean everybody is banged up. Like I said, I was sort of joking when I said it, (but) my injuries get more attention than the other guys, but we’ve got all kinds of guys banged up right now. Every team does and now is the time to be mentally and physically tough.”
Teammates such as Luck and Adam Vinatieri say their respect for Hasselbeck has grown after seeing what he’s working through. As if Hasselbeck’s injuries were not enough, wide receiver TY Hilton called out the offense’s play-calling this week for being too conservative.
Maybe the Colts haven’t thrown the ball downfield lately because they’re not sure Hasselbeck’s body will be able to do it. Oh, and just because he hasn’t been eating solid foods doesn’t mean you should count him out on Sunday against the Dolphins; the guy was said to be on his deathbed before the first meeting with the Texans and still managed to beat them.
