Is Mo Alie-Cox a cut candidate for the Colts?

PFF listed Mo Alie-Cox as a cut candidate.

As the new offseason arrives, conversations regarding what the Indianapolis Colts should do range from free agency targets, potential draft selections and players seemingly on the chopping block.

Given that the Colts are in fantastic standing with the salary cap, there is little reason for the front office to cut bait with players simply to save money.

As Pro Football Focus looked for potential cut candidates for every team across the NFL, one player stood out for the Colts.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: TE MO ALIE-COX

Salary Cap Details: $0 dead money, $5,920,000 cap savings

The Colts have a stable of young tight ends, and Alie-Cox’s role has diminished a bit as his pay has increased entering the final year of his deal signed in 2022.

Alie-Cox is still a quality jump ball target in the red zone, with three of his 13 receptions in 2023 going for touchdowns. In addition, the 6-foot-5, 267-pounder is an asset in the blocking game. Nonetheless, with a bunch of recent draft picks and a lot of savings here, perhaps this contract is adjusted heading into 2024.

While the Colts would save nearly $6 million in salary-cap space by releasing Alie-Cox, there isn’t a huge need to make a move right now. There likely isn’t a need to make a move even after the 2024 NFL draft.

Alie-Cox was given the keys as the starting tight end following Jack Doyle’s retirement in 2022. He’s in the final year of the three-year deal he signed that offseason.

The issue is that Alie-Cox hasn’t developed into the type of impact player the Colts are paying him to be. He’s still a decent starter because his blocking abilities give him an edge in the tight end room, but if the Colts can find a true Y tight end, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them cut bait.

It’s unlikely a move will happen without a reason behind it, but this will be something to keep in the back of our minds over the course of the offseason.

[lawrence-related id=94295,94287,94285]

Stock up, stock down from Colts’ 2023 season

The Colts’ stock report from the 2023 season.

When we take a look back at the 2023 season for the Indianapolis Colts, it was a good year for the franchise with several players having their best seasons of their career while having some setting new career-highs.

Finding players who raised their stock was easy but narrowing it down to a few was debated heavily. I went with the ones I believe saw a significant increase. As far as for players who saw their stock drop, that was a little more difficult.

There was a clear one who’s performance dropped off from 2022 but for the last two spots, I went with players that could’ve made more of an impact with their time spent on the field.

Let’s take a look at six Colts’ players who either saw a rise or fall in their stock from the past season:

WATCH: Colts’ Mo Alie-Cox scores TD on fourth down vs. Bengals

Big Mo got the Colts on the board.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has no problem being aggressive, and it paid off during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Facing a fourth-and-one from the goal line, quarterback Gardner Minshew found tight end Mo Alie-Cox on a play-action pass for a touchdown to get the Colts on the board.

Here’s a look at the big play near the end of the second quarter:

PFF wants to see Bengals make trade with Colts for underrated TE

An interesting trade proposal for the Bengals.

There are many Cincinnati Bengals targets at the trade deadline worth considering.

From an outsider’s perspective, at least. We recently outlined 11 targets they should pick up the phone and call about before the October 31 deadline. Tight end appeared multiple times after Irv Smith Jr.’s struggles so far.

One who almost made the cut?

Mo Alie-Cox of the Indianapolis Colts. It’s a pairing that fits prominently as a move the Bengals should make, according to a new column from Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger:

Alie-Cox is now third on the Colts’ depth chart in snap share in 2023, with 2021 third-rounder Kylen Granson leading the way and 2022 sixth-rounder Andrew Ogletree showing serious chops as a blocker with a few nice grabs sprinkled in. Indianapolis also used its fifth-round pick in this past year’s draft on Miami (OH) tight end Will Mallory and has 2022 third-rounder Jelani Woods continuing to work his way back from a hamstring injury.

As Brad Spielberger goes on to note, Alie-Cox has all of six drops over 134 targets on his career, which would bring some serious reliability to the position.

At this point, any addition to the position might be a help and if the Bengals, for some reason, don’t like how it works with the 30-year-old, there’s an out built into his contract after this season.

This, if anything at all, is about the range of move the Bengals might look to make if the right sort of deal presents itself.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Colts’ Mo Alie-Cox removed from Week 6 injury report

Mo Alie-Cox was removed from the Week 6 injury report.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox cleared the concussion protocol and his questionable designation on the Week 6 injury report was removed, the team announced Saturday.

Alie-Cox made a quick turnaround this week after suffering a concussion during the Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. Assuming he’s active, Alie-Cox would be the first Colts player this season to play in a game immediately following a concussion.

Alie-Cox’s role has changed with the incoming coaching staff. He’s no longer considered the starter and has been usurped by second-year tight end Drew Ogletree.

Even so, he will likely remain as the No. 3 tight end if the Colts are comfortable putting him out on the field one week after sustaining a concussion.

In five games (three starts), Alie-Cox has recorded three receptions on five targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. He’s played 31% of the offensive snaps this season.

[lawrence-related id=90152,90149,90147]

2 questionable, 5 ruled out in Colts vs. Jaguars

These are players with injury designations in Week 6.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) released their final injury reports included with designations Friday ahead of the Week 6 matchup at TIAA Bank Field.

On the final injury report, the Colts ruled out one player while listing two others as questionable for the divisional game. The Jaguars, meanwhile, ruled out four players and listed one as questionable heading into the weekend.

Here’s a look at the players with injury designations ahead of the Week 6 matchup:

Colts’ Kwity Paye, Bernhard Raimann clear concussion protocol

Bernhard Raimann and Kwity Paye have cleared the concussion protocol.

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye and left tackle Bernhard Raimann cleared the league’s concussion protocol and were taken off the Week 6 injury report.

Paye started showing symptoms of a concussion following the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He was inactive for the Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans but was able to progress through the protocol to be ready for this week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Raimann suffered his concussion during practice leading up to the Week 4 game against the Rams. He was inactive for that game and was unable to clear the protocol in time for the game against the Titans.

However, he was able to pass through the protocol in order to be ready for the road game against the Jaguars.

Rookie Blake Freeland will slide over to right tackle on Sunday to replace Braden Smith, who will be inactive due to a hip injury he suffered during Thursday’s practice this week.

Meanwhile, tight end Mo Alie-Cox is questionable after logging a full practice Friday. He still needs to be cleared by the independent neurologist so we will likely get an update there on Saturday.

[lawrence-related id=90145,90143,90141]

Colts vs. Jaguars: Updated injury report for Week 6

Here’s the updated injury report for the Colts and Jaguars in Week 6.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) released their updated injury reports Thursday ahead of the Week 6 matchup at TIAA Bank Field.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Colts in Week 6:

*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*

Colts Injury Report
Player Injury Wed 10/11 Thu 10/12 Fri 10/13 Status
TE Mo Alie-Cox Concussion DNP LP
T Braden Smith Foot/Wrist DNP LP
LB Shaquille Leonard Groin FP FP
DE Kwity Paye Concussion FP FP
T Bernhard Raimann Concussion FP FP

Notes

  • TE Mo Alie-Cox returned to practice wearing the red non-contact jersey, which means he’s progressing. He still has a few steps to clear the protocol, but he has a slight chance of doing so.
  • RT Braden Smith returned to a limited practice, which is a good sign for his availability on Sunday.
  • Barring a setback, the Colts should see the return of LB Shaquille Leonard, who was inactive in Week 5.
  • Both DE Kwity Paye and LT Bernhard Raimann only need to be cleared by the independent neurologist in order to play Sunday..

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Jaguars in Week 6:

Jaguars Injury Report
Player Injury Wed 10/11 Thu 10/12 Fri 10/13 Status
WR Zay Jones Knee DNP DNP
OL Walker Little Knee DNP DNP
CB Christian Braswell Hamstring LP LP
LB Devin Lloyd Thumb LP LP
T Cam Robinson Elbow FP FP
DE Dawuane Smoot Achilles FP FP
DT DaVon Hamilton Back LP

[lawrence-related id=90100,90098,90096]

Colts vs. Jaguars: Initial injury report for Week 6

Here’s the initial injury report for the Week 6 matchup.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) released their initial injury reports Wednesday ahead of the Week 6 matchup at TIAA Bank Field.

Here’s a look at the initial injury report for the Colts in Week 6:

*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*

Colts Injury Report
Player Injury Wed 10/11 Thu 10/12 Fri 10/13 Status
TE Mo Alie-Cox Concussion DNP
T Braden Smith Foot/Wrist DNP
LB Shaquille Leonard Groin FP
DE Kwity Paye Concussion FP
T Bernhard Raimann Concussion FP

Notes

  • TE Mo Alie-Cox suffered a concussion during the third quarter of the Week 5 win over the Titans. No Colts player has entered the protocol one week and played the very next yet this season.
  • RT Braden Smith will certainly be a player to monitor as he didn’t have these injuries last week.
  • Barring a setback, the Colts should see the return of LB Shaquille Leonard, who was inactive in Week 5.
  • Meanwhile, both DE Kwity Paye and LT Bernhard Raimann appear set to return from concussions after they were inactive in Week 5. Raimann wound up missing two games so his return would be a big boost.

Here’s a look at the initial injury report for the Jaguars in Week 6:

Jaguars Injury Report
Player Injury Wed 10/11 Thu 10/12 Fri 10/13 Status
WR Zay Jones Knee DNP
OL Walker Little Knee DNP
CB Christian Braswell Hamstring LP
LB Devin Lloyd Thumb LP
T Cam Robinson Elbow FP
DE Dawuane Smoot Achilles FP

[lawrence-related id=90082,90064,90078]

Stock report from Colts’ 23-16 win over Titans

Taking a look at the stock report following the Colts’ big win.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) snapped a five-game losing streak against the Tennessee Titans (2-3) in a 23-16 win at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 5.

The divisional victory marked the first home win of the season and the first time the Colts beat the Titans at home since the 2018 season. They did so on the back of a strong rushing attack from Zack Moss and an active day from the front seven.

When taking stock of a player’s performance, it’s best to be fluid. A player’s stock will fall and rise throughout the season so none of this is set in stone. However, it is important to take note of the narratives and storylines taking place as the campaign progresses.

A player’s stock can be impacted by factors such as their performance or the type of snaps they receive during the games.

Here’s a look at the stock report for the Colts following the Week 5 win: