Indianapolis Colts fans may be seeing the end of a long and successful career as Adam Vinatieri is set to undergo surgery that will keep him off the field for the remainder of the 2019 season.
ESPN's Adam Schefter was one of the first NFL reporters to share details about the move that will place the struggling kicker to the injured reserve.
Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will undergo season-ending knee surgery and will be placed on injured reserve, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2019
This surgery ends what has been a rough season for the long-time kicker for the Colts. Depending on his recovery and mental state, this may also become his final season as a kicker after 24 years in the National Football League.
The future Hall of Famer won four Super Bowls with two different teams, and he's made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams three times respectively.
However, everyone who watched him kick this season intrinsically knew that this might be the end for Vinatieri's long NFL run. Only 68% of his field-goal attempts are going in. Moreover, his accuracy when it comes to extra points has also been atrocious at 68%.
It's those two things that have put his future in doubt. According to Inside Hook's Evan Bleier, the Colts' front office may opt out of Vinateiri's services at the end of the season.
Given how his struggles kicking the ball have directly affected the team’s win-loss record — the Colts have lost four games by six points or fewer this season — it certainly seems possible the team will elect to shut their longtime kicker down and roll with McLaughlin for the rest of the season.
If Vinny does decide to call it quits after this season, it will be a rather sad exit for one of the league's most successful kickers.
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