Stephen Holder | IndyStar

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INDIANAPOLIS – Center Ryan Kelly, the Indianapolis Colts’ 2016 first-round pick, suffered a foot injury in Thursday’s practice and will miss time, an NFL source told IndyStar.

While the Colts don't believe Kelly’s injury will linger into the regular season, which begins Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams, Kelly could be sidelined for multiple weeks, the source said.

Kelly appeared to suffer the injury midway through Thursday’s joint practice with the Detroit Lions and initially stayed in the huddle before eventually leaving and not returning to action.

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Kelly started 16 games as a rookie in 2016 and has been a workhorse through his college and pro career. In his final two seasons at Alabama, Kelly started 31 consecutive games as the Crimson Tide advanced to the College Football Playoff.

Losing Kelly for any length of time is a blow to the Colts because the team is without free-agent signee Brian Schwenke -- who is on the physically unable to perform list because of a foot injury -- and therefore lacks a proven backup center. On Thursday, former Warren Central High standout Deyshawn Bond, an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati, snapped with the starting offense.

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Coaches have been working guard Jack Mewhort and guard-tackle Joe Haeg at center during individual drills, developing a backup plan in case Schwenke’s injury doesn’t improve quickly.