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INDIANAPOLIS –As his Colts teammates got ready to take the field on Sunday afternoon, Dwayne Allen turned right out of the locker room and headed for an elevator.
Allen rode the elevator to the top floor of Lucas Oil Stadium where he took in the Colts 34-28 victory over the Seahawks from the press box.
It's not the place that Allen wants to be when the ball is kicked off but the second-year tight end has tried to look at the big picture after being placed on injured reserve in mid-September.
"A lot of guys that have certain injuries, season changing injuries are really not blessed to see the purpose behind it," Allen said on “The Ride with JMV” on Monday.
"Through talking to David Thornton (Colts Director of Player Engagement) and praying about my situation I really have. I wanted to grow closer to my family. Though I would love to be on the field scoring touchdowns with my team, this opportunity has allowed me to grow closer to my family."
From a physical standpoint Allen said his leg is getting stronger as he has begun rehab at the Colts complex following surgery in Colorado.
During the Colts season opening win versus the Raiders, Allen went high for a early third quarter pass attempt and fell awkwardly on his hip.
Allen, who's lone catch in 2013 went for a touchdown, says he has always been taught that "unless the bone is sticking out you aren't hurt" so he simply rolled over and jogged back to the Colts huddle.
He knew something was wrong though and eventually Allen would exit the game.
Over the next week, Allen and the Colts discussed the course of action to take in regards to his hip injury.
Allen said he did not even know if he could return in 2013, and if he did he would be a "small fraction" of the player Colts fans saw last season.
"We really collaborated together on this thing and it was that communication that helped me confidently pray on the decision and make the decision myself to go ahead and have it fixed," Allen said of looking at the long-term ramifications.
"I didn't want to selfishly cling on, cling on, cling on, not knowing when, or if, I was going to touch the field. Then knowing that whenever I did touch the field, I wasn't going to be the same explosive player, the same game changer that I thought I was."
For now, Allen is balancing his therapy with still being involved in team meetings.
The time away from the field has allowed him to continue his involvement in the community as he's taken a larger role in the "Dream Alive Foundation" started by former Colts offensive tackle Tarik Glenn.
Even though Allen might not physically be suiting it up on Sunday his passion for the game now comes in cheering a few levels above his teammates at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Allen told JMV about how prior to the season he wrote down his individual goals which came after the team goals.
It's those team aspirations that have Allen on the edge of his seat every Sunday watching a team that he raves about after five weeks of the regular season.
"I believe that all but one goals of my team goals are out there," Allen says. "I'm participating somewhat in meetings until I get healthy enough to get back in there full time just to be apart of it because I'm still apart of this team, still apart of this organization and I still have those team goals."
