The Indianapolis Colts’ preseason opener ended with a moment nobody on the sideline wanted to see. A scramble toward the boundary on the final play suddenly turned into a scary collision involving one of the team’s coaches.
Special teams coordinator Brian Mason was left on the turf before medical personnel rushed over to check on him. The scene soon turned the focus away from the 13-13 finish and toward Mason’s condition.
Brian Mason’s Sideline Collision Leaves Colts Fans Holding Their Breath
The collision came during the final play at Gillette Stadium, moments after Spencer Shrader hit a 61-yard field goal to tie the game. Players raced toward the sideline as the play developed, and Mason was caught in the chaos before getting rolled up near the boundary.
Mason appeared to be in significant pain as Colts medical personnel came over. He was eventually taken to the locker room, leaving the team waiting for more information on his condition.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen offered a brief update after the game. “He’s getting evaluated for his knee right now… We’ll see,” Steichen said.
This short update did little to settle the nerves among Colts supporters. The injury came out of nowhere, making the sight of Mason going down especially jarring.
Colts Muse reacted to the footage on X with a simple message: “Damn man, that’s brutal…Prayers for Brian Mason.”
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
NFL analyst Derek Larger also sent his support, writing, “Prayers for Mason! Hope all will be fine!”
Fans shared those concerns while also pointing out what Mason means to Indianapolis. Pacers Enjoyer wrote, “Hope he’s alright, man. One of the better special teams coaches in the game.”
Another fan, Big Joe, focused on the unfortunate timing of the collision. “A coach got hurt on the last play of a meaningless preseason game,” he wrote. “Football is a brutal business, really. Hope he’s okay.”
Mason’s importance to the Colts makes the situation worth watching closely, as the team ranked 2nd in PFN’s NFL Offense Impact Rankings last season. He is entering his fourth season running Indianapolis’ special teams and helped oversee a unit that ranked second in the NFL in kickoff return average at 28.8 yards in 2025. The Colts also posted the league’s lowest opponent punt return average at 6.3 yards.
There is plenty on Mason’s plate in addition to those responsibilities. Indianapolis is sorting through a kicking battle between Spencer Shrader and Blake Grupe while also evaluating changes to its kickoff return structure.
For now, the Colts have not announced imaging results or a recovery timeline. Mason’s evaluation remains the main concern after a harmless-looking final play suddenly delivered one of the night’s most unsettling moments.
