Even though Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Tyquan Lewis was thought to be on the roster bubble before training camp, he’s found himself in a position to see an increased role in the second half of the 2020 season.
The former second-round pick has been flashing throughout the first six weeks of the campaign, albeit in a limited role behind DeForest Buckner and Denico Autry.
But with Lewis’ game coming along, defensive line coach Brian Baker believes the Ohio State product has earned more of a role in what has become a stout defensive front in Indy.
“I think he’s earned the right to do that,” Baker said Wednesday of an increased role. “I think that will help his development, and I think it will help our defense.”
We won’t get to see if this will come to fruition for another week as the Colts enjoy their bye resting up and working on issues for the second half of the season. But Lewis has certainly made a case to be one of the players in line for more snaps.
Lewis has had a modest role in the defensive line rotation. He’s played 86 defensive snaps, which is 23% of the unit’s total snap count through six games. In that, he’s been productive.
Lewis has recorded 1.5 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. He has five total pressures and four run stops on the season, per Pro Football Focus. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but that is solid for working on less than a quarter of the team’s defensive snaps.
“Even with the among of snaps I get, I don’t count the snaps, I just try to make the snaps count,” Lewis told reporters Tuesday. “Limited snaps shouldn’t matter, you just have to go in and make a difference, just make an impact. Just throwing your fastball – coming into the game and just being prepared, knowing what to do, how to attack. Just going in and knowing your job, doing your job and getting it done.”
The Colts have enjoyed production from the defensive line with Buckner, Autry and Justin Houston paving the way. Lewis has been working all around the front from defensive end to the interior.
It has been somewhat of a rocky road for Lewis, but he seems to be finally catching a groove as a contributor in the defensive line.
One of the storylines to watch coming out of the bye week will be if he can produce even more with an expanded role across the defensive line.
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