Tag: Isaiah McKenzie

4 pending free agents the Colts should let walk

The Colts should not re-sign these four pending free agents.

The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of decisions to make over the next month when it comes to their in-house free agents.

While we already looked at which pending free agents they should bring back, now it’s time to take a look at which ones they should let walk into the market.

These decisions are difficult for just about everyone, but the NFL is a business.

Here are four pending free agents the Colts should let walk this offseason:

Colts’ special teams unit ranked middle of the pack

Colts sit middle of the pack in Rick Gosselin’s special teams rankings.

The Indianapolis Colts special teams unit underwent a slight makeover during the 2023 offseason following the departure of Bubba Ventrone and the arrival of new coordinator Brian Thomas.

As a whole, the unit had its ups and downs. There were bright moments like the two big plays on blocked punts against the Tennessee Titans. There were also some lapses. They allowed the ninth-most punt return yards (360) and the seventh-most yards per kick returns (26.1).

Rick Gosselin released his annual special teams rankings for the 2023 season, and the Colts found themselves right in the middle of the pack at No. 16 overall.

There is always an adjustment period when a new coordinator takes over, regardless of whether it comes on offense, defense or special teams. Losing Ventrone was going to make life a bit difficult on the unit, especially considering how well they ranked throughout his tenure with the Colts.

There were some injuries that played a factor as well. Losing Ashton Dulin, one of the best gunners in the NFL, due to a torn ACL was a huge blow. Then, the team lost cornerback and return man Dallis Flowers to a torn Achilles a year after he led the NFL in yards per return. Both players were regarded as two of the best special teamers on the entire roster.

Meanwhile, punter Rigoberto Sanchez was working his way back from a torn Achilles that claimed his entire 2022 season.

On punt returns, Isaiah McKenzie spent the majority of the season as the return man. He was pretty inefficient, though, averaging 8.9 yards per return on 23 returns. The team as a whole only return nine total kicks during the season thanks to the new kickoff rules.

Barring a surprising move, Mason will be back for his second season as the special teams coordinator in 2024, and it will be interesting to see if the return of both Dulin and Flowers can get this unit back to where it was before.

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Colts’ Shane Steichen on suspensions: ‘There are standards’

Shane Steichen didn’t go into details about the suspensions, but he did mention the need for accountability.

The Indianapolis Colts made a somewhat surprising move Tuesday announcing the suspensions of wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown for conduct detrimental to the team.

In meeting with the media Wednesday for the first time since those suspensions were announced, head coach Shane Steichen didn’t offer much in the way of details.

But he did mention the standard the team is trying to build.

“I’ll start off, as you guys have seen, we’ve suspended Isaiah McKenzie and Tony Brown. I know you guys are going to have questions regarding specifics, but it’s a matter that we’re handling internally and I’ve got nothing to add on that,” Steichen said.

When asked about the difficulty of deciding to self-impose suspensions, Steichen mentioned the importance of accountability.

“Yeah, no I think there are standards around here and we’ve got to hold people accountable. That’s it,” Steichen said.

Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday that both players’ lockers were cleared out.

It still isn’t clear what led to the team suspending two key special teamers, and it isn’t clear when (or if) we will find out what happened.

What is clear is that Steichen is going to run a tight ship while trying to build a winning culture, something the players seemingly have responded to during the early part of his tenure.

“I think everything is case by case. There are certain things that happen on football teams, but again, there is going to be a standard set around here and people are going to be held accountable.”

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Colts make several roster moves after suspending two players

The Colts made some roster moves after suspending two players.

The Indianapolis Colts made several roster moves Tuesday after announcing self-imposed suspensions of cornerback Tony Brown and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, the team announced Tuesday.

It isn’t clear what led to the suspensions, which were listed due to conduct detrimental to the team. Both Brown and McKenzie were healthy scratches for the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers so there is likely a connection.

The Colts announced more roster moves after the suspensions Tuesday, including one player being added to the active roster.

Colts suspend WR Isaiah McKenzie, CB Tony Brown

The Colts suspended WR Isaiah McKenzie and CB Tony Brown for conduct detrimental to the team.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown were suspended by the team three games for conduct detrimental to the team.

It isn’t clear what happened behind the scenes, but it explains why both players were healthy scratches during the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

McKenzie was replaced by rookie Josh Downs as the punt returner in Week 15. He averaged an impressive 12.7 yards per return on three punts during the 30-13 win.

The Colts will have two roster spots to fill so it’s likely some move will be coming as they prepare for the Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Colts vs. Jaguars: 5 things to know in Week 1

Here are five things to know for the Week 1 matchup between the Colts and Jaguars.

Regular season football is officially back, and the Indianapolis Colts start their 2023 season against the reigning AFC South division winners.

The Jacksonville Jaguars return to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 10, to defend their crown.

Indianapolis has a new coaching staff, quarterback, and team identity built around youth. It’s all hands on deck as the team looks to win its first game in the Shane Steichen era.

Here are five things to know entering the Week 1 matchup:

Colts re-sign former Georgia WR Isaiah McKenzie

McKenzie re-signs with the Colts after being cut earlier this week…

It’s been a dramatic week for former Georgia wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. The seventh-year NFL pro was cut earlier this week by the Indianapolis Colts before re-signing on Wednesday.

McKenzie spent the last five seasons in Buffalo after his rookie season with the Denver Broncos.

Through six seasons McKenzie has amassed 141 receptions for 1,345 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding another 1,630 yards and a score as return specialist.

McKenzie earned the nickname ‘The Human Joystick’ for his knack for making defenders miss during his career as a Bulldog.

McKenzie will play with former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Colts have a young roster and are looking to make some noise in the AFC South.

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Colts place TE Jelani Woods on IR among several roster moves

Jelani Woods will start the season on the injured reserve list.

The Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods was placed on the injured reserve list among several roster moves, the team announced Wednesday.

Woods has been dealing with a torn hamstring since the start of training camp, which was the reaggravation of the injury he dealt with during the spring workouts.

The second-year tight end was held out of the majority of training camp and the entirety of the preseason. Because he was placed on the injured reserve list after the waiver process concluded, he will be eligible to return but after he’s forced to miss the first four games of the season.

The Colts made three roster claims Wednesday in the forms of offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, guard Josh Sills and linebacker Isaiah Land.

In order to make room on the roster for those three waiver claims, the Colts waived defensive tackle McTelvin Agim and guard/tackle Carter O’Donnell. They also released wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was almost immediately re-signed to the roster.

Bills’ Damar Hamlin on return to football: ‘I really love this’

#Bills’ Damar Hamlin on return to football: ‘I really love this’

Bills safety Damar Hamlin completed his journey back to NFL gameplay in Buffalo’s preseason opener win against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

After the win, he spoke of the game being a “step in the right direction”, while sharing how it felt to return to football.

“Just my first few plays in being pressures, and there’s my number being called,” Hamlin said to the press. “So, all of the jitters, all the nerves, that was like out the window right there, like right then and there. But it was good for me. It was able to get me going.”

The 25-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on January 2nd during a Week 17 “Monday Night Football” game last season against the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s now succeeded in working his way back to the field.

“When I’m feeling those nerves and I’m feeling those emotions, it just means I, it means I love, I really love this,” he continued. “I love this, like, I want to be here. I want to play, I want to do good. I want to be one of the greats. I want to be remembered as somebody who, you know, stood for something and who made a difference when I was out there on the field.”

The third-year safety has been a full participant since the Bills OTAs in June and played with no hesitation during Saturday’s contest, seeing time at both special teams and finishing the day with 20 defensive snaps with the second unit to go with four special teams snaps.

He recorded three tackles, the first of which came on the second of consecutive blitzes where he made the tackle on Colts running back Evan Hull on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back for Buffalo.

“What we just witnessed, to me, is remarkable,” head coach Sean McDermott said to the media after the game. “It really is. It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage and obviously, everyone who helped him get to this point. I know there was a football game going on out there today, but I mean truly remarkable display of courage and strength and faith. I had a chance to communicate with Damar a little bit last night, and he assured me he was ready to go. So, he trusts his preparation and God. I think that shows a lot about who he is.”

In all, Hamlin found his love of the game through the experience.

“It was super fun,” Hamlin said. “It was a great experience. Just another milestone and a step up just getting back to myself as far as in the football space and in the NFL.”

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Bills’ Dane Jackson on CB battle: ‘It’s always going to be a competition’

#Bills’ Dane Jackson on CB battle: ‘It’s always going to be a competition’

The Buffalo Bills hosted the Indianapolis Colts in Orchard Park on Saturday, quickly providing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson with a proper welcome to the NFL.

Just under two minutes into the contest on Indy’s opening offensive drive, CB2 Dane Jackson read Richardson and positioned himself for a pick on an off-balance missed throw to set up the Bills first touchdown of the day. 

The interception came when Bills head coach and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott called a blitz on a second down play that saw defensive back Saran Neal pressure Richardson to throw.

“I felt real good, you know what I mean, I was able to just end with a good play” Jackson said after the game.

The interception was timely for the corner.

While he filled in effectively for CB1 Tre White while he recovered from an ACL injury and across from White for much of last season in the CB2 role, he is in a position battle competing with 2022 first-round pick, Kaiir Elam and sixth-round pick, Christian Benford.

Jackson got the start and only played the first series, leaving the game along with the rest of the starters, at which point Elam and Benford took over, with Benford also running first-team gunner with the punt unit on special teams.

“I feel like it’s the same,” Jackson shared about the competition. “It’s always going to be a competition I mean picking preseason unfortunately it don’t really matter, you know what I mean, so just got to keep stacking you got great competition between UCB and Kai here as well so I know they’re going to keep taking steps so I got to stay on mine as well.”

A seventh-round pick by Buffalo in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jackson has been longtime friends with S Damar Hamlin as they are both from the Pittsburgh area and teammates in college at PITT.

When he caught his interception Hamlin ran all the way over from the sideline to the endzone to celebrate with him. He even filmed Jackson’s locker room interview on his phone behind the press camera postgame.

“One thing about Dane, he’s always going to make a play,” said a smiling Hamlin after the game. “Just today, that was good for me, that kind of loosened me up a little bit just him having that interception so early. I’m always extra, extra happy for Dane.”

As for seeing his teammate and friend return to gameplay for the first time since his January 2nd cardiac arrest, it was meaningful as well.

“It was great to see him back out there.”

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