Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Colts’ minicamp.
The Indianapolis Colts spent two days wrapping up the offseason workout program last week with mandatory minicamp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
Minicamp is essentially an extension of the organized team activity (OTA) practices the Colts went through during the months of May and June with the slight difference in that the media is permitted to attend every practice.
Here are the seven biggest takeaways from Colts minicamp in 2023:
Here’s what we learned from Week 3 of Colts OTAs.
The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up organized team activities (OTAs) Thursday with their 10th and final practice session, which means only minicamp stands between the team and summer break.
It can be difficult to gauge the vital takeaways from OTAs considering the fact that the media is only permitted to attend one practice session per week. What happened on the three media days may not be the same for the seven other practices so everything should be taken with a grain of salt.
Regardless, here’s what we learned about the Colts from Week 3 of OTAs:
Shane Steichen had no comment on the NFL’s investigation into potential gambling violations.
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To no surprise, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen offered no comment on the NFL’s ongoing investigation of potential violations of the league’s gambling policy in regard to cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. at OTAs.
Rodgers Sr. is under investigation by the NFL after potentially violating the league’s policy. But Steichen, unsurprisingly offered no comment on the investigation.
“I’ll just start off first, I’m sure you guys are going to have some questions about the gambling issue,” Steichen told reporters Wednesday. “All I’ll say on that is it’s an ongoing investigation with the NFL right now and we are constantly – it’s an ongoing process educating our players, educating our coaches on the situation. Beyond that, I will have probably no further comment going forward.”
Rodgers Sr. hasn’t been spotted at any of the OTA practices that the media has been present for going back to the end of May. It isn’t clear if he was dealing with an injury or whether the pending investigation kept him off the field.
As far as it potentially becoming a distraction for the Colts, Steichen said these types of issues must be compartmentalized.
“I think any time something like this comes up, you’ve got to push it aside and move on, but the players have been good so far in the building,” Steichen said.
According to a report from ESPN’s Stephen Holder and David Purdum, Rodgers Sr. reportedly opened an account under the name of an associate and placed roughly 100 bets.
The sportsbook account was opened under the name of an associate of Rodgers, the sources said. Approximately 100 bets were placed on the account over an undisclosed amount of time, including on Colts games, the sources said. Most of the bets were in the $25-$50 range, although there was at least one low four-figure bet.
The league has come down hard on players who have violated the policy in recent memory.
This offseason, four players on the Detroit Lions roster and several staff members were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for a full season in 2022 when he was with the Atlanta Falcons. He was reinstated this offseason and subsequently traded.
We’ll see what the verdict is on Rodgers Sr. sooner rather than later, but it’s likely to have a major impact on the Colts defense if a suspension is looming.
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Isaiah Rodgers Sr. issued an apology Monday night amid the NFL’s gambling investigation.
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Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is under investigation for potential violations against the NFL’s gambling policy, and he issued an apology Monday night.
The verdict of the investigation has yet to be revealed as of this writing, but Rodgers Sr. made his apology taking full responsibility for his actions.
— Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (@rodgers_isaiah) June 6, 2023
If the investigation warrants a suspension, it could be a lengthy one. Former Atlanta Falcons and current Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for an entire season when the league found he was betting while away from the team.
This offseason, four players on the Detroit Lions roster and several staff members were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder and David Purdum, Rodgers Sr. reportedly opened an account under the name of an associate.
The sportsbook account was opened under the name of an associate of Rodgers, the sources said. Approximately 100 bets were placed on the account over an undisclosed amount of time, including on Colts games, the sources said. Most of the bets were in the $25-$50 range, although there was at least one low four-figure bet.
We’ll see what the verdict is on Rodgers Sr. pretty soon and it very well could have some big implications for the Colts’ upcoming season and the cornerback’s career.
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Colts CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr. reportedly is being investigated for potential violations of the NFL’s gambling policy.
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Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. reportedly is the player being investigated by the NFL for potential gambling violations, according to multiple reports Monday.
An earlier report from Sports Handle surfaced that an unnamed Colts player was coming under investigation from the league for potential violations, and it appears that player has been revealed as the third-year cornerback.
Destin Adams of Sports Illustrated’s Horseshoe Huddle was the first to report the news that Rodgers Sr. was the player in question Monday evening.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder and David Purdum, Rodgers Sr. reportedly opened an account under the name of an associate.
The sportsbook account was opened under the name of an associate of Rodgers, the sources said. Approximately 100 bets were placed on the account over an undisclosed amount of time, including on Colts games, the sources said. Most of the bets were in the $25-$50 range, although there was at least one low four-figure bet.
The league has not been kind to gambling violations in recent memory. This offseason, four players on the Detroit Lions roster and several staff members were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy.
The result of the investigation could prove costly for Rodgers Sr., who is in the final year of his rookie contract.
This will be something to monitor over the course of the offseason, especially with the cornerback room being a big question mark on the Colts’ roster.
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Which Colts can capture a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in their careers?
Just two seasons ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the most Pro Bowl selections (seven) in the NFL before their dumpster fire of a 2022 campaign resulted in Quenton Nelson being the lone representative for the franchise at the most recent all-star game.
This should be no surprise as bad teams typically don’t see their players earning honors by the end of the season since they aren’t getting attention from the national media and audience.
With that being said, there are a number of players on this year’s roster that will be looking to make grab the first Pro Bowl nod of their career. Let’s take a look at 10 Colts who have the potential to play in their first all-star game at the end of 2023:
Taking a look at the most intriguing position battles as the Colts begin OTAs.
The offseason program for the Indianapolis Colts kicked off last month and continues with organized team activities (OTAs) this week.
These activities happen in three phases (May 23-25, May 31-June 2, and June 5-8) and will consist of in-person meetings and dedicated classroom teaching designed to help players improve during the offseason.
It’s also significant because it marks the first time the Colts can run drills between the offense and defense even though no pads or contact are permitted.
As the players reconvene, the evaluation process of the roster begins. It’s a critical time for a young team such as the Colts.
Here are the most intriguing position battles to watch at Colts’ OTAs:
Julius Brents should compete for a starting role pretty early.
The Indianapolis Colts began the second day of the 2023 NFL draft with a focus on accumulating more picks and talent.
First, they traded back from No. 35 to No. 38, adding an extra fifth-rounder (No. 141) in the process. They made another trade from No. 38 to No. 44, picking up an extra fourth-rounder (No. 110) along the way.
With only one defensive back taken before the selection at No. 44, the Colts were spoiled for choice with many great corners still on the board.
General manager Chris Ballard and staff decided on Julius Brents, a cornerback out of Kansas State to fill a huge need on the defense. Brents, a local product originally from Warren Central will be staying in Indy as a perfect fit for this Colts defense.
In terms of the depth chart this season, the cornerback spot was a bit of a question mark heading into the draft. Brents provides quite a bit of clarity to that question as he brings great length and speed to fit perfectly in Gus Bradley’s scheme.
Brents played quite a bit on the outside and has the athleticism to match up one-on-one, and he has the physicality to come down and make a hit in more of a zone option look.
Expect Brents to compete for a starting spot immediately on the outside opposite Isaiah Rodgers Sr. or another veteran they may sign in free agency.
This will allow Kenny Moore II to remain the primary nickel corner option, a spot where he excels in coverage.
While this might not be the last addition to the secondary in this draft, it’s another exciting pick for an Indianapolis team looking to right the ship in 2023.
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These prospects are perfect fits for the Colts in the NFL draft.
The 2023 NFL Draft finally begins this week. On April 27, the Indianapolis Colts will look to add exceptional talent and critical depth to their roster. At the top of the list of objectives is addressing positions of need.
General manager Chris Ballard has often stressed the “need to get it right” this offseason. In terms of the draft, what does that look like?
Currently holding nine selections in the draft, the Colts will have their chances to address positions of need.
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Here are the perfect prospect fits for the Colts at critical positions of need in the draft:
The Colts are likely to keep CB Kenny Moore II. Here’s what that means for the team.
When the 2021 season ended, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II expected changes. Moore had one of his better seasons in a Colts uniform, earning his first Pro Bowl honors.
He approached the 2022 season with an edge, hoping to be compensated for his talent as one of the NFL’s best slot corners.
Despite his best efforts to stand firm during a self-imposed “hold-in,” the Colts didn’t budge, putting pressure on Moore to strengthen his case.
Unfortunately, his 2022 season was underwhelming. Injuries and sub-par play stifled his campaign for more recognition, making him a potential cap casualty during the early portion of the offseason.
However, Moore is now expected to remain with the team for the 2023 season. What does Moore staying with the franchise mean?
Here are five thoughts about what keeping Moore means for the Colts:
