Indianapolis Colts offensive linemen Matt Slauson reportedly suffered two broken vertebrae in his spine during last Thursday's loss to the New England Patriots and has been placed on injured reserve as a result. However, things could have been much worse for Slauson, who played nearly the entire second half of Indy's Week 5 loss with the spinal injury.
According to Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, Slauson suffered the spinal injury early in the third quarter and was just one play away from being paralyzed. "I had no idea how close I was to changing my family's life," Slauson said, according to Keefer.
Earlier this week the Colts announced that Slauson, 32, had been placed on injured reserve after he played 88 snaps, including all 83 on offense, against the Patriots.
The nine-year NFL veteran signed a one-year deal with the Colts in March, and has spent time with a number of different teams during his career, including the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.