Tag: Indianapolic Colts

Indianapolis Colts Schedule: Toughest three-game stretch

A difficult three-game stretch in the second half of the season could play a key role in determining the Colts’ 2024 season.

The Indianapolis Colts face a difficult three-game stretch from Weeks 10 through 12 that could have a major impact on their 2024 season, depending on the outcomes of those games.

In Week 10, the Colts face the Buffalo Bills at home for a 1:00 PM kickoff.

In Week 11, the Colts travel to New York to face the Jets for their lone prime-time game of the year taking place on Sunday Night football.

Then, in Week 12, the Colts are back home to take on the Detroit Lions at 1:00 PM.

Last season, both the Bills and Lions were playoff teams, with the Lions being on the cusp of making it to the Super Bowl. Once again, both teams expect to be among the elite within their respective conferences.

The Jets’ 2023 season was derailed by an Achilles injury to Aaron Rodgers, but his return makes them a playoff contender and a team that we know has Super Bowl aspirations.

In each of these games, the Colts will have to contend with high-level quarterback play, with Buffalo and Detroit both ranking top-six in points per game scored in 2023.

On the other side of the ball, the Bills and Jets had two of the better defenses in the NFL last season by points per game allowed. Detroit was very good against the run but struggled against the pass.

The good news for the Colts is that two of these three games are being played at home. However, prior to their Week 10 matchup with Buffalo, the Colts will be coming off a two-game road trip against Houston and Minnesota–meaning that from Weeks 8 through 11, three of those four games will be on the road.

This stretch of games also takes place during the second half of the season, before the Colts have had their late Week 14 bye. So, from a rest standpoint, there won’t be any reprieve beforehand.

Despite being without Anthony Richardson for most of last season, the Colts finished the year 9-8, just missing out on the playoffs. Continuity was the theme of the offseason, with GM Chris Ballard prioritizing retaining his own players, and that element – on both sides of the ball – will have to be a catalyst in the 2024 season.

“When you have your system in place, it helps big time, especially with the players understanding the verbiage and terminology,” Head coach Shane Steichen said. “But really trying to stay on the cutting edge of things because this league is always changing. So if we can do that and build on what we did last year, I’ll be excited for the 2024 season.”

At the end of the day, games aren’t played on paper, and who knows, maybe as the season unfolds there is a different stretch of games that emerges as the most difficult. But sitting here in mid-May, when paper is all we have to go off of, these three games could play a key role in defining the Colts’ season.

For a look at the Colts full regular season schedule, click here. To take a closer look at the regular season schedule with eight important things you need to know about, click here.

WATCH: Colts’ Darius Leonard gets pick-six in Pro Bowl

Colts LB Darius Leonard grabbed a pick-six during the Pro Bowl on Sunday.

The takeaway king among linebackers was at it again on Sunday as Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard recorded a pick-six during the NFL’s All-Star game.

Though the intensity of the Pro Bowl is clearly dwindling as players try to avoid injury, you can only keep the Maniac from calming it down so much when he’s on the football field.

That’s why when he intercepted a pass from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the Pro Bowl on Sunday, there’s no surprise he took it all the way to the house.

Leonard finished the game with four tackles (three solo) and an interception. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was named the MVP of the Pro Bowl after the AFC won 41-35.

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Colts add RT Braden Smith, 4 others to COVID-19 list

Colts added five more players, including RT Braden Smith, to the COVID-19 list.

The Indianapolis Colts placed five players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including right tackle Braden Smith, the team announced Monday.

It was expected that the Colts would get hit with more COVID-19 issues after they had a semi-outbreak during Week 16. They had several starters miss the Saturday night game against the Arizona Cardinals because of positive tests.

The players that were placed on the list include right tackle Braden Smith, running back Marlon Mack, safety Jahleel Addae, cornerback T.J. Carrie and linebacker Malik Jefferson.

Depending on a player’s vaccination status, there is still a chance they can return in time for the game against the Las Vegas Raiders where the Colts will be trying to clinch their playoff berth.

If a player is unvaccinated and tests positive for COVID-19, they are out for a minimum of 10 days, which would certainly keep them out of game against the Raiders.

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Colts still have no timetable for Carson Wentz return

Colts DC Matt Eberflus had no update on Carson Wentz’s injury status on Saturday.

The Indianapolis Colts still do not have a timeline for return when it comes to quarterback Carson Wentz and the foot injury he suffered on Thursday.

Wentz is out indefinitely with an unspecified foot injury after he felt a “twinge” during team drills in Thursday’s practice on a rollout. He didn’t practice Friday as the Colts turned to second-year passer Jacob Eason.

Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus told the media following Saturday’s training camp practice that the team had no new information at the time.

”The second thing really is Carson (Wentz), I know you guys are going to ask about him. There is no timetable right now. We don’t have any new information. When we get that information, we’ll give it to you. So, that’s that on that front right there,” said Eberflus.

Without speculating, it’s hard to determine what the course of action will be for the Colts. We don’t yet know what the specific diagnosis is, which makes it hard to consider a potential timeline for return.

Wentz is expected to consult with foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson soon, and his recommendation is likely to weight heavily in the decision the Colts go—whether it be surgery or rest and rehab.

Should the Colts opt for surgery, which is something they have to seriously consider depending on the severity of the injury, that could lead to Wentz missing a number of games to open the regular season.

With Eason leading the first-team offense in Wentz’s absence, the Colts also brought in Brett Hundley from free agency on Saturday. The latter is likely going to work as the backup with Sam Ehlknger and Jalen Morton while the Colts see what they have in Eason.

9 free agent WRs the Colts should consider in 2021

Free agent WRs for Indy.

There are several needs the Indianapolis Colts must address during the 2021 offseason, including at the wide receiver position where they could use some more depth.

Fortunately for the Colts, there is a chance they can add some top-tier talent in free agency if they feel like doing so. Whether they actually will is the big question for Chris Ballard but with their salary cap space, they shouldn’t be afraid to bring in a big fish.

The Colts have a solid group of young wide receivers. Michael Pittman Jr. is on track to being the future WR1 while Parris Campbell can hopefully put his injuries behind him. Zach Pascal has been as reliable as it gets as a depth piece. But the Colts can afford to bring in some more talent.

Here are nine free-agent wide receivers the Colts should consider signing this offseason:

Falcons conduct interview with Colts’ Morocco Brown for GM role

Falcons interviewed Morocco Brown.

The Atlanta Falcons conducted their interview with Indianapolis Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown for their vacant general manager role, the team announced Tuesday.

It was reported on Monday that the Falcons had requested an interview with Brown for their general manager role and though it was expected that the Colts would allow it, the process got done rather quickly.

Brown has been with the Colts every step of the way in terms of the roster construction since Chris Ballard took over the process in 2017. He has been a key part in bringing in a certain type of college prospect, and it isn’t really a surprise that he;s getting looks from other teams for their general manager roles.

Brown isn’t the only staff member for the Colts getting requests to interview from other teams, though. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus now has three teams wanting to interview him while assistant general manager Ed Dodds has been requested for an interview by the Carolina Panthers.

It will be interesting to see if this interview will lead anywhere for Brown, but it would be a major loss for the Colts if he heads to Atlanta.

Xavier Rhodes, Julian Blackmon among most underrated defenders

Pair of Indy’s defensive backs get some recognition.

Throughout the first half of the season, the Indianapolis Colts have seen some pleasantly surprising production from their secondary, especially when it comes to cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Julian Blackmon.

Rhodes, who is enjoying a strong bounce-back campaign, has emerged as a reliable piece in the secondary. Blackmon, a rookie third-round pick, has burst onto the scene as the replacement for Malik Hooker.

Both players were listed as a part of Doug Farrar’s most underrated defenders in 2020 over at Touchdown Wire. Here’s what he had to say about both:

Rhodes: “Sometimes, all it takes for a player to hit the restart button is a new opportunity with a new team. That certainly appears to be the case for Rhodes, who was one of the NFL’s worst cornerbacks 2019, his final year with the Vikings — he gave up 66 catches on 79 targets for 822 yards, 233 yards after the catch, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and an opponent quarterback rating of 131.1.

What a difference a new defense makes. This season, and perhaps it’s because he’s playing in more zone looks — Rhodes has allowed just 16 catches on 37 targets for 275 yards, 63 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, two picks, and an opponent quarterback rating of 64.6, Rhodes is a high-variance player, but at least there’s variance this season, as opposed to last year’s disaster.”

Blackmon: “Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus likes to call a lot of Cover-2, and with super-safety Malik Hooker out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, Blackmon — a third-round rookie from Utah — has been a primary reason Eberflus can still dial those schemes up with abandon. The Colts have not allowed a touchdown pass in 42 dropbacks in Cover-2 and 2-Man, and Blackmon has allowed just two catches on six targets this season for 39 yards, minus-1 yard after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 17.4. A converted cornerback, Blackmon has helped Indy’s defense stay at or near the top of the charts all season.”

While the secondary was a question mark entering the 2020 season, some of those questions have been answered. It still remains a need ahead of the upcoming offseason, but there is a bit more stability in the room thanks to the play of Rhodes and Blackmon.

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Colts to hold walkthrough after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Colts change practice to a walkthrough.

The Indianapolis Colts were informed Thursday morning that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and while they initially planned on practicing, that has changed.

The Colts will now be conducting a walkthrough on Thursday with the hope of returning to practice on Friday. The team did the same thing when they had four false-positive tests ahead of the Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The team is currently in the intensive protocol and is conducting contact tracing in regards to the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19.

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Colts’ staff member tests positive for COVID-19

A staffer has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Indianapolis Colts were informed that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Thursday morning.

The team is in the process of contact tracing and the staff member has been isolated. The Colts also said they will be continuing their scheduled practice for Thursday but all meetings will be done virtually.

Here’s the statement released from the team on Thursday:

This morning, we were informed that a member of the Colts staff has tested positive for COVID-19. The team is in the process of contact tracing and has entered the NFL’s intensive protocol. The individual has self-quarantined and is under the care of team doctors. The Colts will conduct today’s scheduled practice at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, but all meetings will be held virtually and away from the practice facility. We are working closely with the NFL, its medical staff and our team doctors.

This will be a situation to monitor, especially as the team conducts contact tracing to determine if any players or other staff members will be considered “close contacts.”

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