Tag: Marcus Johnson

Colts place Matt Gay, Marcus Johnson on protected practice squad

Colts protect Matt Gay and Marcus Johnson.

The Indianapolis Colts placed kicker Matt Gay and wide receiver Marcus Johnson on the protected practice squad on Tuesday, per the league’s transaction wire.

The Colts haven’t utilized the protected practice squad often this season—just with Gay the last two weeks. Even though rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has been extremely solid, the Colts signed Gay to the practice squad a few weeks ago for insurance.

It makes sense that the Colts would protect Johnson, who has been a strong contributor since re-joining the team two weeks ago following the injury to rookie Michael Pittman. Johnson played the third-most snaps among wide receivers in Week 5 for the Colts.

As the league tries to make it easier for teams to navigate through COVID-19, the practice squads were expanded to 16 spots. The league also added the “protection” measure for four of those players. If a player is protected, other teams are not allowed to sign them to their active roster.

The protected practice squads are rest after each week of games.

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Colts elevate G Jake Eldrenkamp, WR Marcus Johnson

Colts make a roster move.

The Indianapolis Colts elevated guard Jake Eldrenkamp and wide receiver Marcus Johnson ahead of the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Saturday.

With Anthony Castonzo ruled out, the Colts need some depth on the offensive line. Le’Raven Clark will be the one to fill in for Castonzo while Eldrenkamp will be the backup to Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski alongside rookie Danny Pinter.

Johnson was called up for the Week 4 game against the Bears. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell on the injured reserve list, the Colts needed some depth behind T.Y. Hilton and Zach Pascal.

The Colts and Browns are expected to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Colts sign WR Marcus Johnson to the practice squad

Cols bring back Marcus Johnson.

The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Marcus Johnson to the practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.

With second-year wideout Parris Campbell going on the injured reserve list after suffering PCL and MCL injuries in Week 2, the Colts bring back some familiar depth.

Johnson was in for a visit with the Colts on Monday.

Johnson has been with the Colts off and on since 2018, and spent the entire offseason with the team through training camp. He missed most of training camp with an injury, but he knows the system well.

Behind T.Y. Hilton, the roles will likely be up for grabs to include players like Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal, Dezmon Patmon and Ashton Dulin.

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Marcus Johnson visited the Colts on Monday

Marcus Johnson comes in for a visit.

A familiar face visited the Indianapolis Colts on Monday in wide receiver Marcus Johnson, per the league’s transaction wire.

As Parris Campbell is out indefinitely—potentially for the season—after suffering an injury to his PCL and MCL, the Colts are likely needing some depth in the wide receiver room.

Johnson has plenty of experience with the Colts and their offensive system. He joined the team in 2018 and showed promise before a season-ending injury in Week 6. He then spent most of the 2019 season on injured reserve but made an impact late in the season. He led the Colts offense in yards per reception.

He was with the team throughout the offseason and during training camp but dealt with an injury for the majority of it. He was released during the roster cuts.

Campbell showed a lot of explosiveness in Week 1 but will now be out for a very long time. The Colts will also lean on rookies Michael Pittman Jr. and Dezmon Patmon, Zach Pascal, Ashton Dulin and Daurice Fountain.

But given Johnson’s experience and talent, he could slide right into the WR3/4 role immediately as long as he’s healthy—he missed most of training camp with an injury.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the visit, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Johnson is signed when either Campbell or Malik Hooker (Achilles) go on the injured reserve list.

Colts injury updates: Parris Campbell undecided on surgery

Longhorns in the NFL: Roster tracker as team’s cut down to 53

Several former Texas players were on the bubble in terms of surviving the final round of roster cuts throughout the NFL.

On Sept. 5, NFL teams were forced to make cuts in order to trim their roster down to 53 players. Continue reading “Longhorns in the NFL: Roster tracker as team’s cut down to 53”

How many WRs will the Colts keep on the 53-man roster?

How many WRs the Colts keep will be a major factor.

One of the toughest decisions a front office has to make every year is how to configure their roster at the end of the preseason. This year will be no different for the Indianapolis Colts with all the different things going on in the world.

The Colts will be in an interesting spot, especially with how they’ll cut down their offense. Expectations are they’ll keep three quarterbacks and a fullback on the roster, something most teams don’t do. Although the new rule about a protected practice squad could change things.

The wide receiver position is one that has several questions surrounding it in terms of construction. Let’s look at how many wide receivers the Colts should keep going into the 2020 season:

The Locks

The players that should be a guarantee to make the roster are T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell, Michael Pittman, and Zach Pascal. Hilton and Pascal have proven to be solid receivers in the NFL, and Campbell and Pittman are both second-round picks that are still very young and have time to develop. Their skill sets also perfectly matchup with their roles.

These four wide receivers should be considered locks for roster spots, barring an injury that would keep them off of the active roster.

Fighting for a spot

Here is where it gets messy for the Colts. It all depends on whether they keep five or six receivers, but there will be a few guys fighting for those spots.

Marcus Johnson was a player the Colts traded for in 2018. Johnson contributed late last year when injuries hit the group.

Daurice Fountain has one of the longer shots to make the roster. A fifth-round pick in 2018, he was having a solid training camp last year before suffering an ankle injury at the end of camp. Fountain needs to show he’s fully healthy and can contribute now.

Ashton Dulin was on the roster at the end of the 2019 season but spent the majority of the time as the special teams gunner. Dulin has an upper hand on most of these guys because of his strong play as a special teamer.

Dezmon Patmon is the last of the back end receivers that will be fighting for a spot. Patmon also is a long shot to make the roster because, like Fountain, he was a late-round pick by the Colts in the 2020 draft. Coming from Washington State, he wasn’t asked to have a diverse route tree, so he has a ways to develop before truly competing for a spot.

Conclusion

Since Ballard has taken over as GM, the Colts have kept six receivers all three years, and I would expect the same this year. With the injuries the Colts dealt with and the depth of the position, expect six receivers to make the 53-man roster in September.

Colts to re-sign WR Marcus Johnson

Marcus Johnson returns to Indy.

Despite allowing him to hit the free agent market, the Indianapolis Colts are re-signing wide receiver Marcus Johnson.

A steady contributor in an injury-laden wide receiver room during the 2019 season, Johnson recorded 17 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns. With depth needed in the room, the Colts bring back a familiar face.

Johnson is returning on a one-year deal with the Colts, per Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star.

The Colts saw most of their wide receivers suffer injuries during the 2019 season, and Johnson stepped up during the second half of the campaign. That’s why it was a bit of a shock to see them not tender his contract as a restricted free agent.

Johnson flashed some promising traits in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Jets. He served as depth in the wide receiver room during the 2019 season and made an impact during the second half when the Colts needed it most, leading the team in yards per reception.

Johnson will certainly be battling for a roster spot, especially with the likelihood of the Colts adding to the wide receiver room during the draft.

Report: Colts not expected to tender WR Marcus Johnson

Marcus Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent.

The Indianapolis Colts are not expected to tender wide receiver Marcus Johnson ahead of free agency, per Joel A. Erickson of Indy Star.

Johnson is a restricted free agent this offseason, which means the Colts would place a tender on him if they wanted to retain him. Surprisingly, though, Johnson is not expected to receive a tender from the Colts. This will make him an unrestricted free agent when the new league year officially begins on March 18.

Johnson has been somewhat of a favorite for their Colts since joining the team via trade before the 2018 season. He stepped up during the 2019 campaign when the Colts wide receiver corps was decimated by injuries, which was thought to be a good sign for his future with the team.

In eight games, Johnson caught 17 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 16.3 yards per catch, the highest mark on the entire offense. He had a career day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14 when he caught three passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

The Colts have a massive need at wide receiver, which makes this move a bit of shock, especially given how well Johnson stepped up when they needed him to. This could be a sign that the Colts are ready to add more top-end talent to the room, but there is no concrete evidence to support that notion.

Regardless, Johnson is expected to hit the open market, and there should be a number of suitors given what he’s shown during his short time with the Colts.

Five former Texas Longhorns set to become NFL free agents

With the NFL season ending with the Super Bowl, there are five former Longhorns who could be on the move in 2020.

The NFL season is all wrapped up with the conclusion of the Super Bowl that crowned the Kansas City Chiefs as the world champions. On March 14th teams can begin negotiations with their unrestricted free agents and they can begin signing them on March 16th as free agency opens for the 2020 NFL season.

Adrian Phillips, Safety, Los Angeles Chargers

Phillips could be on the move in 2020, the former Longhorns defensive back finished his sixth season in San Diego/Los Angeles with the Chargers. During that time, Phillips has snagged five interceptions in 24 starts and 64 games overall. Should the Chargers allow Phillips to walk in free agency, there is no shortage of teams in need of help on the back end of the defense.

Potential Suitors: Cleveland, Dallas, New England, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle

Hassan Ridgeway, Defensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles

The oft-injured Hassan Ridgeway could be on the move once again this offseason. Ridgeway started out in with the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 where he played in all 16 games and started five. Over the last two seasons, Ridgeway has played a combined 12 games and five starts. The former Longhorn accumulated 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.

Potential Suitors: Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle and Tampa Bay, 

Marcus Johnson, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts

In 2019 Johnson saw his first season with any significant production at wide receiver. In the two seasons prior, he caught just 11 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown. This past season saw his numbers jump up to 17 for 277 yards and two more touchdowns. Johnson could be on the move in hopes of a bigger role in 2020.

Potential Suitors: Arizona, Buffalo, Dallas Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington

Sam Acho, Linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Acho will be going into his 10th season in the NFL. He has been more of a reserve of the last two years. Recording just three combined tackles in 12 total games. Acho would be a player that can bring depth to the position and he brings veteran leadership to a young team.

Potential Suitors: Carolina, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Green Bay.

Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Washington Redskins

The Longhorns all-time winningest quarterback will be on the move should he decide to continue his NFL career. McCoy enters his 10th season in the NFL after stops in Cleveland, San Francisco and Washington. He can be a spot starter and good depth with a wealth of knowledge for a young quarterback.

Potential Suitors: Arizona, Dallas, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami

Colts’ 2019 player review: WR Marcus Johnson

Reviewing the 2019 season for WR Marcus Johnson.

The Indianapolis Colts wide receiver room had to dig deep into its depth during the 2019 season, which allowed Marcus Johnson to find a role during the second half.

2019 Stats

Games Played: 8
Snaps: 412 (38%)
Receptions: 17
Receiving Yards: 277
Touchdowns: 2
Yards Per Reception: 16.3

Season Review

Because the Colts got hit so hard with injuries during the second half, Johnson didn’t see the active roster until the Week 10 game against the Miami Dolphins.

Even in a limited role, Johnson showed promise and explosiveness. He led the Colts offense in yards per reception and found the end zone twice. He isn’t a top-of-the-depth-chart player, but Johnson was again promising.

Johnson had a career day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he caught three passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Offseason Outlook

Johnson technically isn’t under contract with the Colts for the 2020 season, but that is likely to change at some point during the offseason. He’s an exclusive rights free agent, which means he would be extremely cheap for the Colts to retain.

Given his production in a limited role, his age and his upside, it would be a major shock if Johnson didn’t come back in 2020.

Conclusion

The Colts have some serious question marks at the wide receiver position and while Johnson will be fighting for a roster spot during the preseason (should he re-sign), he has shown enough promise to warrant some optimism.