Tag: Zaire Franklin

Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Colts

The Tennessee Titans are banged up at inside linebacker heading into Week 16, making this Colts player the perfect player to target.

The Tennessee Titans will return to the field attempting to get back in the win column when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Colts’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades.

The Titans are making changes and appear to be moving on from quarterback Will Levis this week. Mason Rudolph will take over and has a chance to impress down the home stretch of the season. Unfortunately, the Colts quarterback situation is not much better, and neither Anthony Richardson nor Joe Flacco would improve the roster.

Running back Jonathan Taylor is as dynamic as they come. But would Taylor be that much of an upgrade over Tony Pollard? Probably not.

The real problem is the offensive line. The entire unit has underperformed and now it appears JC Latham has hit the rookie wall. We addressed this position in the last Gimme Him before the first meeting by selecting offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann.

While it would be easy to grab another player from their line to fill the hole, the Titans might have a more pressing issue at the moment.

Tennessee has a huge problem at inside linebacker with injuries depleting the unit. Right now, rookies Cedric Gray and James Williams are the only healthy bodies. Kenneth Murray is playing through a hamstring injury and is not close to 100 percent. Otis Reese and Jerome Baker missed Week 15 with injuries and Luke Gifford is now in concussion protocol.

With all of the injuries, Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin would be the logical selection for Week 16.

Franklin has 144 total tackles (80 solo) with three forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions on the season.  The veteran linebacker is a tackling machine with 100 combined tackles in each of his last three seasons, including a career-high 179 tackles in 2023. Most importantly, he is healthy.

The Titans are battered and bruised at the linebacker position and Franklin would be able to step in and lead the two rookies while the rest of the unit recovers. Plus, his tackling prowess would be huge for a defense that has struggled to stop the run at times in 2024.

What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Zaire Franklin or steal an entirely different player from the Indianapolis Colts?

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Gimme Him: Zaire Franklin would be immediate playmaker for Patriots

Zaire Franklin would make an immediate impact in the Patriots’ linebacker room.

The New England Patriots are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and there’s one particular defensive player the Patriots could utilize on their roster.

That player would be Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who is this week’s pick for Gimme Him.

Franklin has 123 tackles with two forced fumbles, a sack and an interception on the season. He has been a consistent playmaker for the Colts with his most recent effort being a 13-tackle performance against the Detroit Lions.

The veteran defender is a tackling machine with 100 combined tackles in each of his last three seasons, including a career-high 179 tackles in 2023. He is also a workhorse playmaker, having played 100 percent of the snaps in two out of the last three seasons.

The Patriots could use his veteran leadership at a linebacker position that is missing team captain Ja’Whaun Bentley, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in September. Franklin would offer stability to a Patriots defense that has not been consistent all year.

New England has several holes, and the linebacker position would be a good place to start. Franklin would be that key piece that would not only elevate the position, but he’d elevate the entire defensive unit as a whole.

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Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin returns to practice on Thursday

After missing practice on Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin returned on Thursday.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin returned to the practice field on Thursday ahead of the team’s matchup with Buffalo.

After playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps on Sunday night against Minnesota, Franklin did not practice on Wednesday. He was listed on the injury report with an ankle injury.

Later this afternoon, we will find out if Franklin returned as a full or limited participant.

Through the Colts’ first nine games of the season, Franklin ranks second on the team in solo tackles and is first in total tackles. He’s been very reliable in that regard this season, with a missed tackle rate of just 7.6 percent, according to PFF.

Franklin would record his first interception of the season in the red zone this past Sunday versus the Vikings as well–not to mention that he is the signal caller and lead communicator in the middle of the Colts’ defense.

The Colts’ defense right now, including the linebacker position as a whole, is in the midst of playing its best football over these last four games, ranking eighth in EPA/play, ninth in dropback EPA, and 10th in rush defense EPA.

This week, the Colts’ defense will be tasked with having to contain the high-scoring Buffalo offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen.

Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin doesn’t practice Wednesday

Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin did not practice on Wednesday ahead of the team’s Week 10 matchup vs. Buffalo.

The Indianapolis Colts were back on the practice field Wednesday in preparation for their Week 10 matchup with the Buffalo Bills and not participating, but watching, was linebacker Zaire Franklin.

At this time, it is not known why Franklin is not participating in practice. The Indianapolis Colts’ first injury report of the week will be released on Wednesday afternoon following practice.

Through nine games, Franklin ranks second on the team in solo tackles and is first in total tackles, and has been incredibly reliable in that regard, with a missed tackle rate of only 7.6 percent, according to PFF.

Franklin would record his first interception of the season this past Sunday against Minnesota.

The play from the Colts’ linebacker position this season has been up and down at times, but the defense as a whole since the Jacksonville game has been trending in the right direction.

The Colts have navigated a few injuries at the linebacker position this season. Speed would miss the team’s game against Miami, while Jaylon Carlies is currently on injured reserve.

Again, at this time, we do know have any specifics on Franklin’s status for the rest of the week.

Jaguars vs. Colts: Thursday injury reports

Jaguars vs. Colts: Thursday injury reports

The Jaguars and Colts each saw some key contributors in upgraded action in Thursday’s practice compared to Wednesday’s, a good sign for both squads as they prepare for their Week 5, AFC South matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Find Jacksonville and Indianapolis’ Thursday injury reports for Week 5 below.

* indicates status upgrade from previous practice

Jaguars injury report

  • RB Tank Bigsby (shoulder) — limited
  • RB Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) — limited
  • WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
  • TE Evan Engram (hamstring) — limited
  • DE Josh Hines-Allen (concussion) — limited*
  • LB Devin Lloyd (knee) — limited*
  • LB Yasir Abdullah (neck) — limited
  • CB Jarrian Jones (shoulder) — limited
  • S Darnell Savage Jr. (quadricep) — limited

Analysis: Jaguars starting defenders, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and linebacker Devin Lloyd, were upgraded to limited Thursday after being nonparticipants in practice Wednesday.

They joined every other player on Jacksonville’s injury report in being limited Thursday, marking the only changes to the Jaguars’ list.

Colts injury report

  • OT Braden Smith (knee) — full*
  • LB Zaire Franklin (illness) — full*
  • LB Grant Stuard (heel) — full*
  • QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) — limited
  • RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) — did not practice
  • C Ryan Kelly (neck) — did not practice
  • DE Kwity Paye (quadriceps) — did not practice
  • CB Kenny Moore (hip) — did not practice

Analysis: Three Colts, starting offensive tackle Braden Smith and linebacker Zaire Franklin and backup linebacker Grant Stuard, were upgraded to full participation Thursday after being sidelined on Wednesday.

Starting Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson remained limited, while starting running back Jonathan Taylor did not practice for a second consecutive day.

LB Zaire Franklin explains his Week 4 frustrations with Najee Harris

Zaire Franklin finally cleared the air regarding his frustration-induced social media response to Najee Harris’ pregame antics in Week 4.

Social media was abuzz after the Steelers’ Week 4 loss, but for all the wrong reasons. Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris rubbed Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin the wrong way with his pregame antics, flipping off the Indianapolis crowd. This led to an outburst on social media, calling out the Steelers’ running back for being “soft” and claiming that Harris’ teammate, Cordarrelle Patterson, was better.

Franklin spoke with his teammate E.J. Speed on his podcast, the Trenches Show, about the situation. Both men stated that they did not want any additional animosity but also let Harris know that next time, he should leave the city of Indianapolis out of it:

“I wouldn’t say I have personal feelings toward that guy, but what I will say is…you flipping off my city coming in and then you gonna go put out that type of performance, I’mma speak on that.”

Franklin and Speed added that their anger stemmed from having children in the stands, including Franklin’s own child.

With Week 4 in the rearview mirror and Week 5 on the horizon, hopefully, Zaire Franklin and Najee Harris can move past this lapse in judgment and let bygones be bygones.

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Colts LB Zaire Franklin has choice words for Najee Harris’ pregame antics

Najee Harris, during pregame, flipped off the Colts’ overhead jumbotron. Like everyone in the stadium, LB Zaire Franklin saw and responded.

Pittsburgh’s Week 4 contest left a sour taste in the mouths of fans and players alike. Several Steelers players wore their hearts on their sleeves after the loss. However, one player seemed to be in a bad mood before the game even started.

Najee Harris apparently didn’t take too kindly to being used as a noise tactic on the Indianapolis jumbotron. As he was walking out with his team, he flipped off the cameras—displaying the gesture to every man, woman, and child in the stadium.

Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin didn’t appreciate the unruly gesture and responded to Harris’ actions on social media:

Franklin is, of course, referencing number 84, Cordarrelle Patterson, who exited the Week 4 contest with an ankle injury. Patterson had 43 rushing yards on just seven carries, while Harris managed only 19 yards on 13 carries. Hopefully, Harris can channel his pregame frustrations into better rushing attempts, as this was one the worst displays in his career.

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Colts linebacker fined for ‘unnecessary roughness’ vs. Texans

A Colts linebacker was fined for “unnecessary roughness” on a tackle made in the team’s Week 1 loss to Houston.

Indianapolis Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin was fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter of the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans.

The fine was reportedly $22,511 and came on a tackle of Houston running back Joe Mixon. The hit was not flagged during the game.

https://twitter.com/RomeovilleKid/status/1835051830524436852

As the Indy Star’s Joel Erickson wrote, Texans running back British Brooks received a $4,444 fine for a hit on kick returner Anthony Gould.

Franklin finished the game with one quarterback pressure, eight total tackles, and he allowed only seven yards in coverage on just two receptions.

In what was a narrow defeat for the Colts, Mixon and the Texans’ offense ran wild in that game against the Indianapolis defense, with Houston totaling 213 rushing yards, which included Mixon having 159 of them.

In particular, when Grover Stewart wasn’t on the field, was when the run defense really struggled.

This week, Franklin and the Colts’ defense will be facing Malik Willis and the Green Bay Packers. On Saturday afternoon, the Packers downgraded Jordan Love from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s game.

As a result, many experts are predicting the Colts to win this game–although, it is certainly worth mentioning that the defense will still have to contend with a Packers’ offense that features Josh Jacobs at running back and a litany of pass-catching options.

How to go about defending Willis comes with some unknowns, but ultimately, the Colts need to put the game in his hands and not in Jacobs.

LB Zaire Franklin was only Colts’ player in NFL’s top 100 rankings

The NFL’s full top 100 player rankings have been released and the only Colts’ player to make the list was LB Zaire Franklin.

The NFL’s full top 100 player rankings for the 2024 season have been released and the only member of the Indianapolis Colts to make the list was linebacker Zaire Franklin at No. 100.

Since taking over as a key member in the middle of the Colts’ defense in 2022, Franklin has broken the team record for tackles in each of the last two seasons–setting the mark in 2022 and then breaking it in 2023.

Last season, specifically, ranking recorded seven pressures with a whopping 178 combined tackles. In coverage, he allowed 10.0 yards per catch with five pass breakups. In the run game, Franklin tallied the ninth-most run-stops among linebackers and was 14th in run-stop rate.

“He’s a dog,” head coach Shane Steichen said at the end of last season. “He shows up every single day. He works his tail off. He prepares the right way. He leads in the locker room the right way and he plays with great intensity, great effort and energy.

“Obviously, (he) studies tape. You can see it. He’s in the right spots making tackles over and over and over again every week. Shoot, it’s been a pleasure to have him on this football team, and being around him for my first season with him.”

When it comes to the Colts’ players that were left off this list, guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner are the two that stand out the most.

Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in all six of his NFL seasons and was an All-Pro in 2018 and 2019. In 2023, Nelson allowed only one sack and 21 pressures, according to PFF, and ranked sixth among all guards in pass-blocking efficiency.

Buckner, meanwhile, has been nothing but disruptive since joining the Colts in 2020. He finished the 2023 season ranking seventh in pass-rush win rate and 11th in PFF’s run-stop rate as well. His 52 pressures were the 14th most among his position group last year as well.

These rankings are voted on by the players, but Nate Atkins of the Indy Star provides a peek behind the curtain when it comes to voting:

Colts’ LB Zaire Franklin makes NFL’s top 100 players list

The NFL released the first 20 players on its annual top 100 rankings and making an appearance was Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin.

The NFL’s annual top 100 player rankings debuted on Monday evening, counting down from No. 100 to No. 81. Appearing on the list at No. 100 for the Indianapolis Colts was linebacker Zaire Franklin.

These player rankings not only list the top 100 players entering the 2024 season, but they are voted on by the players themselves, going to show the high regard that Franklin is held in around the NFL.

A former seventh-round pick out of Syracuse in 2018, Franklin cut his teeth at the NFL level on special teams before getting the opportunity to start on defense during the 2022 season.

During that span as a starter, Franklin has been a tackling machine, setting the Colts’ franchise record for tackles in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, showcasing his ability to be a reliable tackler, along with seemingly always being around the football.

Last season specifically, Franklin totaled seven pressures and 178 combined tackles, according to PFF. In coverage he limited pass catchers to just over 10.0 yards per reception and forced five pass breakups.

Against the run, Franklin ranked third among all linebackers in run defense tackles, he was ninth in run-stops, and 14th in run-stop rate.

“He’s a dog,” head coach Shane Steichen said at the end of last season. “He shows up every single day. He works his tail off. He prepares the right way. He leads in the locker room the right way and he plays with great intensity, great effort and energy.

“Obviously, (he) studies tape. You can see it. He’s in the right spots making tackles over and over and over again every week. Shoot, it’s been a pleasure to have him on this football team, and being around him for my first season with him.”

This past offseason, the Colts signed Franklin to three-year extension, worth $31.26 million, keeping him with the team through the 2027 season.