Tag: Matt Pryor

Colts’ stock report following Week 2 loss to Jaguars

Taking stock in some Colts players after the Week 2 loss.

The Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1) strolled into TIAA Bank Field for a Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) only to come out the other end with even more question marks than before.

It was a poor performance all around. From the coaching to the production, it was a tough scene for a team that talked all offseason about getting revenge on the Jaguars, who ended their playoff hopes in 2021.

Between performance and usage, we can gather a lot of information about a player’s stock. While we know the stock for the big-name players like Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., it’s the other pieces on the roster whose stock is likely to change the most throughout the season.

It’s important to remember that the stock report is fluid. A player whose stock fell in one week can rise the following week, and vice versa. It’s more about spotting trends and potential for the future based on what we saw in the game that week.

Here’s the stock report for the Colts after the Week 2 loss.

7 duds from the Colts’ putrid loss to Jaguars in Week 2

Here are seven duds from the Colts’ 24-0 loss in Week 2.

There’s no easy way to describe the performance the Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1) put on the field Sunday during the 24-0 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) in Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field.

Not only did the Colts fail to end the losing streak down in Duval County—extending it to eight games now—but they also failed to show any improvement from their Week 1 tie against the Houston Texans to open the season.

The team is heading in the wrong direction despite an offseason of changes both on the roster and the coaching staff. There weren’t many bright spots from the game. The only player who truly impressed was defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who was constantly in the Jaguars backfield.

Other than that, it was nothing short of rock bottom for a Colts team that doesn’t look ready to compete for a playoff spot.

Here are seven duds from the putrid 24-0 loss in Week 2:

Colts’ Matt Pryor earned starting left tackle spot

Matt Pryor has earned the starting left tackle spot.

Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Matt Pryor has earned the starting left tackle role on the offensive line, according to head coach Frank Reich on Sunday.

In speaking with reporters following the second preseason game, Reich mentioned how Pryor has earned to keep the starting role going into the start of the season.

“I feel like Matt has deserved and earned the spot that he’s in right now as the No. 1 left tackle. He’s done a good job,” Reich said. “I thought it was great for him to get a little bit of extra work this week and given that he was newer to the lineup than everybody else. I like the progress that he’s making, and I feel good about the opportunity for him going forward.”

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering the development that unfolded throughout the offseason and training camp. Since re-signing on a one-year deal, Pryor has been essentially the only player to take snaps at left tackle with the first-team offense.

The Colts still believe third-round rookie Bernhard Raimann can eventually take over the starting role, but the job is Pryor’s to lose going into the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“No, I think Matt’s done a good job and I think he’s given us a lot of confidence in him going into this week and into the season,” Reich said. “I think that’s our mindset right now.”

So going into the dress rehearsal, Pryor will be joining a starting offensive line that includes Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Danny Pinter and Braden Smith.

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9 Colts to watch vs. Bills in preseason opener

Here are nine players to watch in the Colts’ preseason opener.

The Indianapolis Colts kick off the preseason with a matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

As the Colts prepare to get their starting units ready for Week 1 of the regular season, they will be doing so against a Bills team that isn’t expected to play starting quarterback Josh Allen.

That doesn’t mean much to the Colts, who have several players looking to come hot out of the gates during the preseason opener.

Here are nine Colts players to watch in the preseason opener against the Bills:

Colts’ tight-knit offensive line welcoming new pieces

Braden Smith knows chemistry along the offensive line can’t be forced.

When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts offensive line, chemistry is always at the forefront of the conversation.

As a unit working to get back into the elite tier of offensive lines across the NFL, they will be welcoming two new starters along the front five at left tackle and right guard.

Chemistry is built through shared experience and success together as a unit. A standard has been set since right tackle Braden Smith entered the league in 2018, and the unit has tried to uphold that standard ever since.

There have been bumps along the way in recent seasons, and Smith remarked that chemistry isn’t something that can be forced. It has to occur naturally and organically on its own.

“I mean you can’t fake chemistry. I think we’re just a tight-knit group as it is, we always have been,” Smith told reporters Saturday. “I feel like that kind of just reflects on the field the last couple years. You hear about some groups that aren’t as close and I mean it shows.”

At left tackle, the Colts are still trying to find the replacement for longtime starter Anthony Castonzo, who retired following the 2020 season. The Eric Fisher experiment didn’t work, and now they are leaning on a competition between the versatile veteran Matt Pryor and rookie third-round pick Bernhard Raimann.

Through the first two weeks of camp, it has been Pryor’s job to lose. He’s taken every rep with the first-team offense since the spring as the Colts hope to find the answer to the vacant role on Matt Ryan’s blindside.

“Matt has played left tackle before so it’s not like he hasn’t ever done it before,” Smith said.

On the other side of the line, third-year lineman Danny Pinter has been leading the competition at right guard following the departure of Mark Glowinski, who was the starter for the last four seasons.

Pinter, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, was selected for exactly this role. The Colts knew he had some development to go through, but Smith sees a player ready to take advantage of an opportunity.

“It’s Danny’s first time at guard but I mean he’s an experienced guy, smart guy and willing to learn. He’s been doing a great job just getting better every day,” said Smith.

As for Pinter himself, it’s easy to buy into the standard that has been set by Smith, Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly.

“Yeah, those dudes definitely set a standard a long time ago for what it means to be a Colts offensive lineman and I think the best way to put it is just work,” Pinter said Thursday at training camp. “We’ve got an awesome group of guys that are humble and just want to work and play for each other.”

The offensive line is a major storyline to watch throughout training camp and the preseason, especially considering there’s a new quarterback under center for the fifth consecutive season.

Building chemistry is always a key factor for the offensive line, but we may not know how well the unit works together until the season has already gotten underway.

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Colts’ Matt Pryor ‘taking every rep’ at left tackle

Matt Pryor is leading the battle for the starting LT role.

One of the biggest training camp battles on display this week for the Indianapolis Colts has taken place at left tackle between veteran Matt Pryor and rookie Bernhard Raimann.

As general manager Chris Ballard said all the way back in the spring, Pryor has truly been getting the first crack at winning the starting left tackle role along the offensive line.

In fact, Pryor has seen every rep at left tackle with the first-team offense since the Colts opened camp officially on Thursday with their first practice, according to Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.

We are just two practices in, but Matt Pryor has taken every starting rep at left tackle. With full pads coming on Saturday, the left tackle competition (between Pryor and rookie Bernhard Raimann) will be evaluated even closer.

While the pads won’t come on until next week (Bowen issued a correction later), the Colts are still in the early stages of finding their new left tackle. The physical part of training camp when the pads are on will help decide the winner.

Furthermore, the Colts are keeping an eye on how the rest of the unit responds when a certain player is lined up on the blindside. Ballard mentioned in his pre-training camp press conference that chemistry will play a vital role in determining the starter.

Pryor hasn’t had a ton of experience at left tackle, but he has shown promise during the reps he’s had at that spot. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was starter going into the preseason opener on Aug. 13 against the Buffalo Bills.

The Colts still have high expectations for Raimann, one of their three third-round picks in the 2022 draft. But he’s been working mostly on the second-team offense throughout the spring practices and training camp.

There’s still a long way to go until this spot is determined, but Pryor certainly has the upper hand right now.

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Every NFL team’s top position battle to watch in training camp

These are the NFL’s top roster battles to keep an eye on in training camp

Training camp has arrived, which marks the unofficial start of the 2022 season. All 32 NFL teams have kicked off camp, where there is no shortage of storylines to monitor this summer.

With training camp comes plenty of competition, especially after changes on the roster this offseason. Veterans and rookies alike will be looking to prove themselves in hopes of landing a roster spot or winning a starting job.

Our NFL Wire editors identified the top position battle to watch for each team this summer, which includes several noteworthy starting jobs up for grabs.

Colts’ left tackle competition may come down to chemistry

What are the Colts looking for in the left tackle competition?

Arguably the biggest position battle taking place at Indianapolis Colts training camp comes at the left tackle position where the team is keeping a close eye on who fits best at Matt Ryan’s blindside.

The competition officially got underway Wednesday when training camp started at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield between rookie third-round pick Bernhard Raimann and veteran swing tackle Matt Pryor.

While technique and production in team drills will be vital to the process, general manager Chris Ballard will be focusing on how each player gels with the rest of the offensive line.

“I always go back to the teamwork because one-on-one drills are great from a technique standpoint but they are going to get beat. You’re going to have bad days in one-on-one,” Ballard said Tuesday. “That’s just normal, but the teamwork. That’s when you want to see all five working together. Who fits the best? Who is working the best in the unit? All that plays in, so the teamwork is going to be big.”

As it currently stands, Pryor is getting the first crack at earning the starting job at left tackle. He ran with the first-team offense during the spring and opened up training camp Wednesday doing the same.

Raimann has a shot to take the job, though. He impressed during the spring practices and even though he has more to learn about the position after switching from tight end in 2020, he’s proven to be a quick learner.

The Colts are still searching for their long-term replacement for Anthony Castonzo and at least for the 2022 season, the winner of that role may be the one with the best chemistry.

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Colts’ 2022 training camp preview: Offensive Tackle

Taking a look at the OTs entering training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are less than two weeks away from the start of training camp, which again takes place at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.

One of the more intriguing position battles will take place on the offensive line, specifically at left tackle where a veteran and a rookie will battle it out for the starting role on the blindside.

Be sure to check out the other position previews ahead of training camp:

With veterans reporting for training camp on July 26, here’s our preview of the offensive tackle spots:

5 Colts with the most to lose at training camp

These Colts have the most to lose at training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts will begin training camp later this month where the start of a number of position battles with take place in Westfield.

Earlier, we took a look at the players with the most to gain at training camp. Now, it’s time to look at the opposite end of the spectrum. These players with the most to lose are expected to either have a starting role or at least a roster spot.

Losing out during training camp may be different for some. It could simply mean losing a prominent role in the rotation. For others, it could mean getting cut from the roster altogether.

Here’s a quick look at five Colts players with the most to lose at training camp: