There was a major shakeup in the NFL on Tuesday as the Indianapolis Colts put Carson Wentz on the reserve/COVID-19 list. As Wentz is unvaccinated, he may miss the upcoming contest against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.

ESPN reported that Wentz tested positive for the virus on Monday. On Tuesday, the NFL adopted new CDC guidelines that reduce quarantine from 10 days to 5 days, which means Wentz may still suit up against the Raiders. The Colts have won six of their last seven games as Wentz has played well.

He’s thrown just six interceptions all season while posting a passer rating of 96.4. He’s having one of the best years of his career, and not having him on the field is a significant blow to the Colts and their chances in Week 17 and going forward.

The expectation is that rookie Sam Ehligner will get the start, but the Colts could add a veteran quarterback to the roster considering the importance of this game.

Colts Odds Fall On Wentz News

Entering the week, the Colts were 7.5-point favorites on betting apps over the Raiders in a massive game with playoff implications. But now that Wentz may be out, that NFL line has moved to Colts -5 at several sportsbooks.

It’s also worth mentioning that the total has dropped from 45.5 to as low as 41 on some betting sites. Wentz not playing in this game would have major implications in this matchup and on NFL betting markets.

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In a strange twist, the Colts saw their Super Bowl odds rise slightly at some books on Tuesday. They were +1800 at DraftKings to win the Super Bowl earlier in the day. But after the Wentz news, they are now +1600. One possible explanation for the odds increase is that it may mean Wentz won't miss a playoff game due to COVID-19, as he has already tested positive once this season.

Players are not required to take a COVID-19 test for the next 75 days after being removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list. That means the Colts would actually have one of the more stable quarterback situations entering the playoffs.

RELATED: NFL Week 17 odds & Betting Lines For All Games

Colts' Playoff Picture Now Uncertain

However, getting to the playoffs would be a bit more of a challenge without Wentz. The Colts entered Week 17 at 9-6 and seemed like a lock to make the playoffs. But with the uncertainly around the quarterback position for this game, that is no longer the case. The Raiders come into this matchup at 8-7 and have won their last two games.

If the Colts lose this game, they would suddenly be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs as they would no longer hold the tiebreaker over the Raiders. And with other teams like the Ravens, Chargers and Dolphins all at eight wins, the Colts can ill-afford to drop any more games this season.

According to the New York Times Playoff Simulator, a loss by the Colts on Sunday would drop their odds to make the playoffs by nearly 10%. Of course, they could still get in with a win over the Jaguars (and with some help) in Week 18, but it suddenly takes away any room for error.

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