Colts ST Coach Brian Mason Tears Knee Ligaments in Wild Sideline Collision

The Indianapolis Colts' Thursday night preseason finale against the Patriots ended in a 13-13 tie, but the real damage happened after the whistle — and it landed squarely on the sideline.

Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason suffered multiple torn knee ligaments after being bowled over in a late-game collision, a source confirmed to ESPN. The injury occurred on the final play, as quarterback Riley Leonard's desperation Hail Mary fell incomplete and chaos erupted near the out-of-bounds line.

Mason, standing near the sideline doing his job, had nowhere to go when a Colts blocker and a Patriots defender stayed locked up and steamrolled into him. The result? A coach on the turf, immediately signaling severe pain. Not ideal.

What's Next for Indy's Special Teams?

Mason made the flight home with the team and was reevaluated in Indianapolis. But the big question now: how long is he out? Depending on the final diagnosis — and whether surgery is on the table — Mason's immediate availability is very much in doubt. And for a guy whose job requires bouncing around, coaching a massive roster group in the kicking game, limited mobility is a serious problem.

He's in his fourth season with the Colts after coming over from Notre Dame, and he's got senior assistant Joe Hastings ready to step in if needed. But there's no sugarcoating it: losing your ST coordinator right before the regular season is a gut punch.

The Indianapolis Star was first to report the injury. Stay tuned.