There are several players on the Indianapolis Colts roster who are fighting for a roster spot. Defensive tackle Tyquan Lewis may be the biggest name with the most pressure when it comes to camp battles.
After two seasons of dealing with injuries and making little impact, this is a crucial time for Lewis. The former second-round pick is running out of chances to prove he belongs as a piece of the future. But his first three days during the padded practices are showing a different player.
Head coach Frank Reich has certainly taken notice of the emergence of Lewis thus far through the first few days of training camp.
“I think he has definitely set out to prove something. We picked him with a high pick. Every player wants to contribute, every player wants to live up to the expectations. Tyquan’s (Lewis) got great character, he’s got great athleticism and you’re exactly right Phil (Wilson), I mean he has had three really good days,” Reich told reporters Wednesday.
The Colts traded up for Lewis in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the first half of his rookie season on the injured reserve list due to a toe injury and then recorded 2.0 sacks in the final eight games of the season.
When 2019 rolled around, there were high hopes Lewis would get a bigger role as a pass rusher. However, he wound up playing just 22% of the snaps in nine games without recording a sack.
But Lewis has come to camp with a purpose, and Reich has taken notice simply of how different he looks.
“I mean, he’s looked strong every day in pads. He looks fast and explosive. Physically, he looks better than he’s ever looked since he’s been here. So, very excited about that,” Reich said. “It’s a very short window here and so we all know this is a long haul and he needs to continue to do what’s he’s been doing these three days. If he does, that’s going to be good for him and it’s going to be good for us because he has looked exceptionally good.”
The Colts defensive line might not need to rely on Lewis breaking out as much as they did last year, but it will still be nice to have some young depth on the interior.
If Lewis can stay healthy and begin showing the development as a second-round pick, the front seven will be much better off.