Tag: jelani woods

Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen said after Tuesday’s joint practice with the Bengals that tight Jelani Woods will be out for a while. Joel Erickson of the Indy Star then reported that Woods will undergo surgery on his toe.

Jelani Woods is expected to undergo surgery on his toe, according to a source.

— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) August 20, 2024

Woods exited the Colts’ most recent preseason game against Arizona with a toe injury and did not return. A timetable for his return hasn’t been reported.

Woods is coming off a 2023 season in which he missed the entire year dealing with hamstring injuries.

In the passing game, Woods brings an impressive combination of size and speed to the tight end position that has the potential to make him a matchup problem over the middle. In the preseason snaps we saw from him, it also looks like he’s grown as a blocker.

However, from the sounds of it, that potential hasn’t been consistently recognized in training camp, with Erickson recently leaving Woods off of his 53-man roster prediction.

With the new IR rules this year, the Colts do not have to put Woods on the initial 53-man roster and then move him to injured reserve in order for him to return. He can be one of two players placed on injured reserve on cutdown day and still be eligible to return this season.

The toe injury that Colts’ tight end Jelani Woods sustained in the preseason game against Arizona is not expected to be serious, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star.

Atkins adds that it sounds like there is a “good chance” he could play in the preseason finale against Cincinnati on Thursday.

Woods would exit the game in the second quarter and was initially listed as questionable to return. He was later ruled out. Woods did not have any receptions in the game, although he’s steadily improved as a blocker.

The general consensus from training camp seems to be that Woods has underwhelmed. On Joel Erickson’s most recent roster prediction for the Indy Star, he left Woods off of it.

With Woods missing all of the 2023 season with hamstring injuries and, to a degree, still getting acclimated to Shane Steichen’s offense, it’s not terribly surprising that he hasn’t dominated in practice, but certainly one would like to see more consistency from him, especially with his athletic traits.

Woods very well could find himself on the roster bubble, but cutting him would be giving up on quite a bit of upside.

With his elite speed and size, he can be a matchup problem over the middle of the field, particularly in Shane Steichen’s RPO-heavy offense. Continuing to prove he can be a capable blocker will get him more opportunities as well.

With that said, Woods needs to regularly show that he can be that impact player for this offense, and generally speaking, he needs as many reps as he can get right now after missing his sophomore season.

In the second quarter of the Colts preseason matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, it was reported that Jelani Woods exited the game with a toe injury and is questionable to return.

Update: Woods has been ruled out for the rest of the game.

With Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox not playing in this game, Woods was getting some early and valuable reps, along with Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory.

With elite speed for a tight end coupled with his size, Woods has the potential to be a matchup problem within the offense, particularly over the middle in Shane Steichen’s RPO-heavy offense.

However, from the sounds of it, Woods hasn’t been able to consistently produce during training camp. Last week against Denver, he had one reception for 17 yards, but the bulk of his playing time didn’t come until he was with the third and fourth-string offenses.

Woods would miss all of the 2023 season while dealing with hamstring injuries.

The Colts have some question marks at tight end with roster cuts looming. They could roster five, but that would require going light at a different position. From the outside looking in–other than Granson and Alie-Cox regularly starting–it’s difficult to get a beat on where this depth chart stands.

This year’s training camp is going to provide Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter with their first extended look at tight end Jelani Woods.

“It’s a good time of year. We’re excited to watch Jelani,” said Cooter on Saturday.

Woods would miss the entire 2023 season dealing with hamstring injuries. Now fully healthy and a regular on the practice field during offseason programs and training camp, Woods is feeling good and ready to earn a spot as one of the “pivotal” members of this offense.

During Woods’ rookie year in 2022, he caught 25 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns, with 50 percent of his targets coming between 10-19 yards downfield.

The Colts’ offensive coaching staff has, of course, dissected that tape to learn about what Woods does well and where he can improve. However, the truly valuable part of the evaluation process comes from watching Woods–or any player–in person.

“We’re excited about watching him do that and sort of learning a little bit more about him because we–you learn a lot off tape, and that’s a really important part of our business,” added Cooter, “but the value of training camp, out here practicing live against an opponent you know well–when he’s matchup up versus one of our safeties.

“We got a good feel for how that guy plays and how he’s going to defend him and we’ll see if Jelani can beat that guy on a pass route or maybe block a defensive end on a run play.”

At 6-7 – 253 pounds with 4.61 speed, Woods can be a matchup problem for opposing defenses in the passing game, particularly as someone who can stretch the middle of the field in Steichen’s RPO-heavy offense and in the red zone.

During Sunday’s practice, Woods was one of a few Colts’ pass-catchers to produce a big play in the passing game.

Woods will certainly be a factor in the passing game, with the coaching staff wanting to take advantage of the what he does well. However, at the tight end position, versatility is always at a premium, so throughout training camp, Woods and the other members of the tight end group will be asked to handle a variety of roles, including ones they may not be as accustomed to.

“We’re really excited to get him out there and let him play and let him–like we were talking about with the tight end position, gosh, let him try to do everything,” Cooter said, “and we’ll put the pads on, and we’re blocking, we’re running routes, we’re doing different things in protection. Jelani’s going to get a chance to do all of that.”

Having not only Woods but the other tight ends able to handle both passing game and run game responsibilities will add a layer of unpredictability to the offense. For example, if Woods can be relied upon in the run game or Mo Alie-Cox in the passing game, defenses won’t as easily be able to decipher pre-snap what’s coming based on the personnel or where players are lined up.

As Ballard acknowledged, there may not be a “superstar” in the Colts’ tight end room, but he does believe there are several viable options at that position, particularly with the variety of skill sets on the roster, allowing Steichen to really mix and match the tight end personnel based on the opponent and game-plan.

Indianapolis Colts’ third-year tight end Jelani Woods was picked by CBS Sports as one under-the-radar player “who could shine” during the 2024 season.

Woods would not see the field at all during the 2023 season as he dealt with various hamstring injuries. The year before as a rookie, he would catch 25 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns.

However, now fully healthy, Woods was a full participant in the Colts’ offseason programs and is feeling better than ever.

“Actually, to be honest, I feel better, really,” said Woods during OTAs, “because I’m pretty much starting to know my body well and creating a routine daily to just keep building myself, and I feel like I’m in a good start right now, so I’m just trying to keep it going. Take it a day at a time, really, for the most part.”

At 6-7 – 253 pounds and with elite 4.61 speed, Woods has the potential to be a matchup problem in this Shane Steichen offense.

Woods has the versatility to line up across the formation, helping to create mismatches for himself and others. He can provide a big red zone target for Anthony Richardson and is someone who can stretch the middle of the field in Steichen’s RPO-heavy offense.

The early impressions of Woods during the offseason programs from a few of the media members who have been at the Colts’ practices were positive.

“Obviously coming off the injury, taking care of his body has been awesome,” Shane Steichen said. “But to see him out here going with the guys, he’s been making a ton of plays. A big body tight end that can run the vertical routes, run the shallows, run the deep cross, it’s awesome to see. Obviously he’s a matchup for a defense that they gotta be prepared for, so it’s been good to see.”

After Woods was sidelined for Steichen’s first season in Indianapolis, offseason programs were one of the few extended looks that Steichen has had of Woods.

To an extent, it is like Woods is going through his first season all over again, and while he has a fairly obvious fit in this offense, he will have to earn his playing time back, now nearly two full years removed from what was a productive rookie season.

As of now, the Colts do not have that go-to option at the tight end position–although Woods wants to be that player for them–but what they do have is a tight end room made of diverse skill sets, allowing Steichen to really play matchups depending on the opponent and what the game-plan is.

“I know what I can do,” Woods said. “I know how well I can help the offense. I know I can be a pivotal point in the offense, and I’m just trying to show that and earn the respect back, earn my spot back. And so, pretty much do whatever I can to show them Jelani’s here.”

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods missed his entire sophomore NFL season in 2023, dealing with various hamstring injuries. But now fully healthy and back on the practice field, Woods is feeling better than ever.

“Actually, to be honest, I feel better, really,” said Woods during OTAs, “because I’m pretty much starting to know my body well and creating a routine daily to just keep building myself, and I feel like I’m in a good start right now, so I’m just trying to keep it going. Take it a day at a time really, for the most part.”

As Woods described, the difficulty last season for him was not in the physical component of dealing with an injury that kept him sidelined. Instead, it was the mental aspect of not being able to be on the field with his teammates.

To help combat this, Woods stayed engaged throughout the season. He was in the locker room, in team meetings, and asking questions. This missed time also afforded him the opportunity to get a better understanding of his body, which carried over into how he attacked this offseason.

“Really, for me, it was more of doing a lot of iso work,” said Woods. “So everything I did was iso, so quads, hamstrings. Everything I did was more just targeting one specific area and then as I got each area stronger, then I just put it all together, and that’s pretty much how I am still doing it now.

“Like I said, creating the right routine and then also treatment, finding the right people, having the right resources around me, and just staying on top of that daily, and then just going about it like that, for the most part.”

At 6-7 – 253 pounds with 4.61 speed, Woods brings an imposing combination of size and speed to the Colts’ offense. As a rookie during the 2022 season, we saw the playmaking ability that Woods possesses. That year, he caught 25 passes for 312 yards with three scores, and leading all tight ends that season with 50 percent of his targets coming between 10-19 yards downfield.

Those hamstring injuries robbed Woods of what could have potentially been a breakout year in 2023, but now he believes he will enter the 2024 season even more explosive than he once was.

“My rookie year, I could tell I was limited with certain stuff,” said Woods, “like planting and everything like that, and now I feel like I’m getting out of my breaks way faster. I feel like I have more of a receiver dynamic compared to the true tight end.”

Early impressions of Woods during the offseason programs from media members who have been at the Colts’ practices are positive. With Woods’ size, speed, and versatility, his fit within Shane Steichen’s offense is fairly clear: as a big red zone target for Anthony Richardson, someone who can stretch the middle of the field, particularly on RPOs, and as a matchup problem for opponents with his ability to be moved around the formation.

However, this is close to Steichen’s first extended look at Woods on the practice field since he arrived in Indianapolis as the head coach. To a degree, it’s almost like Woods is going through his first season again and has to prove that he can be the Colts’ top tight end option this season.

“I know what I can do,” Woods said. “I know how well I can help the offense. I know I can be a pivotal point in the offense, and I’m just trying to show that and earn the respect back, earn my spot back. And so, pretty much do whatever I can to show them Jelani’s here.”