Tag: Jack Doyle

6 Colts who must step up for QB Anthony Richardson in 2023

These Colts need to step up for their rookie QB.

The excitement from the 2023 NFL Draft has settled, and the work begins. The Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback Anthony Richardson as their franchise cornerstone.

He is now the assumed answer to a very strenuous post-Andrew Luck life.

With this transition comes great responsibility, but at just 20 years old (21 in May) and only 13 games under his belt, Richardson will need help from his teammates as he navigates his rookie season.

Here’s a look at six Colts who need to step up for Richardson in 2023:

How signing TE Pharaoh Brown impacts Colts’ draft plans

Will the signing of Pharaoh Brown keep the Colts from drafting a TE?

Since Jack Doyle retired, the Indianapolis Colts have sorely missed the skills of a blocking tight end.

During his tenure with the team, Doyle was one of the premier blockers in the league. It’s fair to say that the team could have efforts like those during the 2022 season.

The offensive line struggled to create ample running lanes, and pass blocking also dived. The unit finished the season in the middle of the pack, a far cry from the elite line it was in seasons past. An extra effective blocker, such as a tight end, might have eased the load.

Unfortunately, that option was not on the roster this season, either. Blocking is not something that any current Colts tight end outwardly excels at. That’s why it made sense that the team signed Pharaoh Brown this week.

Brown’s offensive production doesn’t leap off the page, but he has experience being utilized as a lead blocker. His signing could take the pressure off the Colts to find a blocking tight end in the later rounds of the draft.

However, it does bring up an intriguing question: would the team still draft a tight end anyways?

Possibly.

The team doesn’t know what it has in Andrew Ogletree after he went down with a season-ending injury during training camp. The same can be said about Jelani Woods, who showed much promise but was underutilized.

Finally, though the team believes in Mo Alie-Cox, a report earlier this season suggested that Alie-Cox could be traded in favor of leaning on other talents.

If the team decides a different tight end is needed, this year’s class is deep with plenty of options.

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Grading the Colts’ draft selection of TE Jelani Woods

How we graded the Colts’ selection of TE Jelani Woods.

The Indianapolis Colts continued to add weapons to the offense during the second day of the 2022 NFL draft. At No. 73 overall in the third round, the Colts selected tight end Jelani Woods out of Virginia.

Woods is a massive prospect, standing at a towering 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 259 pounds, and the idea of pairing him with another match-up nightmare in Mo Alie Cox is a potentially dangerous combo.

Alie-Cox is stepping into the starting role after the retirement of long-time reliable option Jack Doyle this offseason. Woods gives another great young option to develop behind him alongside second-year tight end Kylen Granson.

Woods is a very raw prospect, but clearly Chris Ballard and his staff see the huge potential in him at the position. Should he be able to keep growing into his size and developing into a pro-level target in the passing game, and also finding a way to contribute early on special teams, snaps should be very easy for Woods to find his rookie season.

In terms of speed, Woods was able to perhaps help his stock with running a 4.61 40 time at the combine and also adding 24 reps on the bench press. Woods has all the makings of a big and fast target, but will need to work on developing his receiving skills and growing as an in-line blocker to help the running game, which will still be a main focus of the offense.

Woods put up impressive stats in his only season at Virginia in 2021 grabbing 44 passes for 598 yards, and eight touchdowns good for a first-team All-ACC selection. Woods will take time. but should help improve a passing game for Indianapolis that disappointed many times in 2021.

Woods is likely a depth option early on in his Colts’ career as he continues to polish his game, and grow as a catcher and blocker, but with the coaching staff in place the sky is the limit for how much this huge match-up nightmare can grow in the NFL.

Grade: B+

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Colts’ 4-round mock draft following Matt Ryan trade

Here’s an updated 4-round mock draft for the Colts following the Matt Ryan trade.

The Indianapolis Colts have made the biggest decision of the 2022 season, trading a third-round selection to the Atlanta Falcons for former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan.

This is a solid deal for a reeling organization, attempting to forge ahead from past mistakes at the most important position in football. Ryan brings a veteran presence and stability that the Colts have mostly lacked since the retirement of Andrew Luck, with a different Week 1 starting quarterback in each of the past five seasons with Ryan to be the sixth in 2022.

While this may not be the last move in an otherwise quiet offseason, attention will soon turn to the 2022 NFL draft for all 32 teams.

This draft looks to be one of, if not the most, important times for general manager Chris Ballard, head coach Frank Reich and respective staff members to shine with many of their jobs likely on the line.

It will be more important than ever for this organization to surround its new quarterback with young talent on both sides of the ball and get back on track towards its prime goal of winning a Super Bowl.

Here, we’ll take an updated look at the first three selections in a four-round mock draft for the Indianapolis Colts using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator:

Colts players, Twitter react to retirement of TE Jack Doyle

Here’s how Colts players and Twitter reacted to the retirement of TE Jack Doyle.

The Indianapolis Colts added another positional need to their list on Monday after longtime tight end Jack Doyle announced his retirement from the NFL.

The move has become official as the team placed him on the reserve/retired list, per the league’s transaction wire. It saved the Colts over $5 million in salary-cap space but now they have a bigger need to fill at tight end.

Doyle was a versatile tight end who was thought of as a leader in the locker room and on the field. His blocking always made an impact while he had some of the most secure hands at the position since he entered the league in 2013.

With the big news taking place Monday afternoon, here’s how some Colts players and others reacted on Twitter:

Jack Doyle’s retirement saves Colts over $5 million in salary cap space

The retirement of TE Jack Doyle saved the Colts over $5 million in salary-cap space.

Tight end Jack Doyle announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday and because he still had one year left on his contract, the Indianapolis Colts got a bit of a bump in salary cap space.

As the league set the 2022 salary cap at $208.2 million, the Colts now know exactly where they stand. Doyle’s retirement saved them roughly $5.45 million while the team incurs a dead-cap hit of $750,000.

As it currently stands with a week until free agency, the Colts have $42.47 million in salary-cap space, according to Over The Cap. In effective salary-cap space (i.e. top-51 rule), the Colts have $40.9 million in salary-cap space.

The top-51 rule accounts for the “maximum salary-cap space a team will have when it signs at least 51 players to its roster.” Essentially, only the 51 most expensive contracts count against a team’s salary cap. In this area, the Colts have the fourth-most effective salary cap in the NFL.

The NFLPA Public Salary-Cap Report has the Colts sitting with $40.2 million in salary-cap space.

Much of this will change over the next month or so. Regardless of how active they are in free agency, it all comes down to the situation surrounding quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Colts are already on the hook for $15 million of Wentz’s salary-cap hit in 2022. If he’s still on the roster by March 18, another $12 million will be added to that cap hit. It comes in the form of a $5 million roster bonus and $7 million of his base salary being guaranteed.

The Colts are also going to try to sign some of their own pending free agents like tight end Mo Alie-Cox, especially now that Doyle has retired.

We’ll see just how active the Colts are in free agency, but they are still in a very solid standing when it comes to the salary cap.

 

Colts’ Jack Doyle announces retirement from NFL

Colts TE Jack Doyle announced his retirement from the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle on Monday announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons in the league.

Doyle, who originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, gave a message to the fanbase through the team.

”

Growing up in Indianapolis in the late 90’s/2000’s it was impossible to not be a diehard Colts fan. Getting the chance to play 9 seasons for the team I have always and will always cheer for has been a dream come true. It is something that is hard to describe. I now go back to being the fan I have always been and retiring from the great game of football. I have a deep love for the game of football. I took pride in playing the game the right way and always leaving everything I had on the field. I have a deep respect for the dedication and commitment it takes to be out there for your teammates. At this time, my body is telling me that is a sacrifice I can no longer make.

There are too many people to thank on this journey that has truly shaped who I am. It would be impossible to name them all and I am sure I will miss many.

Thank you to my incredible wife, Casie. Without your relentless support through the ups and downs of my career I would never have made it to this point. My sons, Ronan and Henry, for keeping me young and adding more joy to my life than they will ever know.

Thank you to my parents and my entire family for your continuing support not only in my career, but in my life.

Thank you to Mr. Irsay and the Irsay family for their belief in me and for allowing me to be a part of this amazing organization.

Thank you to all my coaches, the general managers, and the entire front office staff for trusting, guiding and pushing me.

Thank you to the strength coaches, trainers, doctors, equipment staff and all other members of the Colts organization for the countless hours and for helping me in so many ways.

Thank you to my agent, Buddy Baker, who believed in me from the beginning and for your continued guidance.

Thank you to my teammates. Out of everything, being called a teammate was what I took the most pride in. I have been blessed with some of the best teammates and they will forever be my friends. Being a teammate is what I will miss the most. I firmly believe that there is nothing better than being a teammate in the greatest team sport.

Last but not least, thank you to the amazing fans. I know from my personal childhood experience and into my own career that Colts Nation is a special breed. Your support through the long NFL seasons does not go unnoticed. We could not do what we love without you. I took pride in representing you every Sunday.”

Despite entering the league with the Titans in 2013, Doyle’s career was spent with the Colts. He joined the Colts after they claimed him from the Titans during roster cuts.

Relative to tight ends in the Colts franchise history, Doyle ranks third in team history in receptions (295), fifth in receiving yards (2,729) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (24).

Doyle has been the starting tight end for the Colts since 2016. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection (2017, 2019) and was the team’s recipient for the 2018 Ed Block Courage Award.

Doyle’s versatility will be missed, and now the Colts have to make another move at the tight end position with Mo Alie-Cox set to be a free agent.

 

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Colts still waiting on Jack Doyle’s retirement decision

The Colts are still waiting on a retirement decision from TE Jack Doyle.

The Indianapolis Colts haven’t gotten word from tight end Jack Doyle on whether he will play another season in the NFL, according to general manager Chris Ballard.

Doyle, who told reporters after the season he’s contemplating retirement, still has time to make a decision. But as of Tuesday, Ballard hadn’t received a decision from the veteran tight end.

“Not yet. I’ve had some good talks with him though,” Ballard told reporters at the NFL combine.

Doyle’s decision does loom a bit large in terms of the offseason moves to come for the Colts. His role as a blocker and a receiving option would leave a massive vacancy in the offense if he does retire.

If Doyle does retire, the Colts would likely wind up adding over $5 million in salary-cap space while taking on a dead-cap hit of just $750,000, according to Over the Cap.

The Doyle decision might also have an impact on the same decision that wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is going to make. Hilton appears to be leaning more toward a return to playing in 2022, but he also mentioned earlier in the offseason that his decision would be based on Doyle’s.

Given that Mo Alie-Cox is also set to be a free agent this offseason, a retirement from Doyle would make the tight end position an even bigger need.

We’ll see what happens with Doyle’s decision but it’s one that could have a slight ripple effect on the moves yet to come.

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Longest-tenured Colts are contemplating retirement

The two longest-tenured Colts, T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle, are considering retirement this offseason.

The two longest-tenured players on the Indianapolis Colts roster are both contemplating the idea of retirement this offseason.

Both staples in the offense for the better part of the last decade, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and tight end Jack Doyle have gotten to a point in their respective careers where the idea of hanging up the spikes grows stronger with each passing season.

For Doyle, who has been with the Colts since 2013, the punishment that the game of football doles out takes a toll. Though it’s no guarantee he retires, it’s one of the reasons why 2021 could be his last in the league.

“I’ve just been banged up. It’s been tough – tough on my body, tough on me just in general. It’s tough to play football and it’s tough to get out there every week,” Doyle said Monday to the media. “It’s kind of taken a toll. Like I said, I’ll take some time to think about it and obviously talk to people close to me and we’ll go from there.”

Doyle is under contract through the 2022 season so there will be slight implications. If he retires, the Colts will hold a dead cap of $750,000 while saving $5.45 million in salary-cap space, according to Over The Cap.

Doyle had a reduced role in the passing game during the 2021 season. He saw 43 targets for 29 receptions, 302 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He still played 57.8% of the offensive snaps, which led tight ends on the roster.

As for Hilton, he appears to be more of a 50/50 toss up when it comes to retiring. He mentioned earlier in the season that he contemplated it after suffering a neck injury during the preseason.

With the regular season over, Hilton will now take some time to again revisit the idea of hanging up the spikes.

“I’m going to take some time, talk to Jack [Doyle], and, you know, just go through if I want to play one more year, I can play one more year. If not, then I won’t,” Hilton said Sunday. “So just talk to him, see what he’s feeling. And once he makes his decision, I’ll kind of know what I want to do kind of based on him, whether it’s here, whether it’s somewhere else. So, I’ll make my decision sometime in the offseason.”

Hilton isn’t under contract for 2022 but there could be slight salary-cap implications. The Colts restructured Hilton’s one-year contract mid-season to free up $2.3 million in salary-cap space by adding a voided year for 2022.

That means even if Hilton does retire, there will be a $2.3 million dead-cap hit in 2022.

The Ghost has been an incredible leader in the wide receiver room but between injuries and Michael Pittman Jr. taking over as the alpha, the production wasn’t there for the veteran wideout.

In 10 games (nine starts), Hilton caught 23 of 37 targets for 331 yards and three touchdowns.

Whatever happens with their decisions, both players will go down as highly-respected members of the organization.

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1 ruled out, 4 questionable in Colts vs. Raiders

Here are the players with injury designations between the Colts and Raiders in Week 17.

The Indianapolis Colts (9-6) and Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) released their final injury reports on Friday ahead of the Week 17 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Both injury reports were relatively clean. Only one player was ruled out from the Colts’ side while three were listed as questionable. One of them is a true game-time decision.

The Raiders, meanwhile, only had one player listed with an injury designation.

Some of this is subject to change. Players can be added or removed from the injury report or a status can be changed.

Here’s a quick look at the five players in this matchup with injury designations: