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It seemed following the 2018 season the Indianapolis Colts found a way to maximize the skill set of tight end Eric Ebron, who had struggled to produce consistently during the first four years of his career.
After a career-year in 2018 that saw him lead all tight ends with 13 receiving touchdowns, Ebron had a chance to earn a bigger deal when his current two-year contract with the Colts expired. However, his future is cloudy with the team.
While Ebron was expected to see a regression in his production for the 2019 season, it hit him much harder than most assumed it would. In 11 games this season, Ebron recorded 31 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns. That’s far from the elite move tight end production he enjoyed in 2018.
Now, the 26-year-old has been placed on the injured reserve list due to a pair of ankle injuries that each require a procedure. His season is over for the Colts, and there is a chance he won’t return.
Ebron’s lack of production shouldn’t all be pinned on him. The passing offense isn’t anywhere close to what it was in 2018—in both production and consistency. The desire to run the ball more and the change in quarterback from Andrew Luck to Jacoby Brissett have both led to Ebron’s down season.
Even so, Ebron didn’t help his case all that much either. He still struggles with concentration drops and his role in the offense playing roughly 40% of snaps per game isn’t one that warrants a new contract.
He did play through injuries—something he should be commended for in what has been an injury-marred campaign for almost the entire Colts roster.
But we know Chris Ballard doesn’t like to overpay for free agents. Ebron doesn’t have the same argument for a new deal that he had after the 2018 season. His lack of production, consistency and the injuries he dealt with are all against him in an offense that is very different from the one he excelled in.
With Jack Doyle also set to hit free agency, the Colts are suddenly thin at the tight end position. That could possibly force Ballard to bring back Ebron if he feels it is necessary even if it is a one-year deal.
However, what Ebron put on the field in addition to the changes on the offensive side of the ball likely doesn’t warrant him being a top priority when the new offseason arrives in March.