Tag: Zaire Franklin

Colts had no All-Pro selections for 2023

The Colts had no All-Pro selections in 2023, but several players were close.

The Indianapolis Colts were not represented with any selections on the All-Pro First or Second Teams for the 2023 season, but several players were right on the cusp.

While the majority of the time the First-Team selections are what truly stick around, it’s notable when players are voted as Second-Team selections. It’s even noteworthy if a player fails to garner either selection but still receives votes.

The way the system works is the panel of 50 writers vote for each position. If a player is voted on the first team, that vote is worth three points. Second-team votes are worth one point. The players with the most points total get selected.

For the Colts, the following positions received no votes whatsoever for the 2023 AP All-Pro teams:

  • Quarterback
  • Running Back
  • Wide Receiver
  • Tight End
  • Left Tackle
  • Right Guard
  • Edge Rusher
  • Cornerback
  • Kick/Punt Returner
  • Special Teamer

Now, let’s take a look at the Colts players who did receive votes for the 2023 AP All-Pro teams, courtesy of the Associated Press’ Rob Maadi:

Colts’ Quenton Nelson named AFC Pro Bowl team

Big Q is the lone Colts representative on the AFC Pro Bowl team.

Indianapolis Colts left guard Quenton Nelson was named to the AFC team for the 2024 Pro Bowl games, the league announced Wednesday night.

Nelson is the only Colts player to be represented on the starting squad while four others were named alternates. Those include defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., center Ryan Kelly and linebacker Zaire Franklin.

Nelson certainly deserves the honor of being a Pro Bowler for the sixth time in his career. He’s enjoying a strong bounce-back season both in pass protection and as a run blocker.

 

There certainly can be an argument made that Buckner and Franklin were snubbed. Buckner has been the engine of a Colts defense that set the franchise record for sacks in a season. Despite continuously seeing high rates of double teams, Buckner has produced consistently.

Franklin leads the NFL in tackles (170) and the AFC in solo tackles (104). Both Baltimore Ravens linebackers Roquan Smith (84) and Patrick Queen (78) both have fewer solo tackles but were named starting inside linebackers.

Pittman Jr. is enjoying a career season. Entering the finale, he has 104 receptions for 1,108 yards and four touchdowns. His reception and yardage totals are both career-highs. His receptions are third among AFC wideouts behind only Tyreek Hill (112) and Keenan Allen (108), and his yardage ranks sixth-best among all AFC wideouts.

Kelly is also enjoying a bounce-back season despite missing three games due to concussions. He has been one of the best centers in terms of pass protection this season, and he’s held up very strongly in the run game.

We’ll see if any of these alternates get added to the starting squad between injuries and Super Bowl players not being able to attend.

For now, the Colts will be represented by just one player.

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Colts vs. Steelers: Updated injury report for Week 15

Here’s the updated injury report for the Colts and Steelers in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) released their updated injury reports Wednesday ahead of the Week 15 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Colts in Week 15:

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

Notes

  • The Colts returned to practice Wednesday after starting the short week with a walkthrough.
  • CB Julius Brents appears to be on track to return after logging two full practices for the first time since suffering his quad injury in Week 7.
  • RT Braden Smith and RB Jonathan Taylor don’t seem likely to play this week unless they log a practice Thursday.
  • LBs Segun Olubi and Zaire Franklin are new additions to the injury report this week.
  • The Colts will release their final injury report with designations Thursday.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Steelers in Week 15:

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Colts trounced 34-14 by Bengals: Everything we know from Week 14

Recapping the Colts’ embarrassing 34-14 loss to the Bengals.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-6) saw their winning streak come to an end in a brutal 34-14 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) on Sunday at Paycor Stadium.

This easily should be considered the worst game the Colts have played this season. Outside of an impact play on a pick-six from linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr., there were very few positive plays for the Colts throughout this entire game.

After falling 14-0 for the majority of the first half, the Colts scored touchdowns on consecutive plays. Mo Alie-Cox found the end zone on a fourth-down play-action call, and Harrison helped tie the game with a pick-six, which was followed up by a two-point conversion by Michael Pittman Jr. just before halftime.

Then, the wheels fell off. The Colts simply could not get out of their own way between penalties, muffed punts and a lack of execution on both sides of the ball. The Colts were shut out in the second half while the Bengals scored 20 unanswered points.

Here’s everything we know from the Week 14 loss:

3 Colts among top-10 at their position in Pro Bowl voting

A trio of Colts are top-10 at their position in Pro Bowl fan votes.

With fan voting commencing for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, the Indianapolis Colts have three players among the top-10 at their respective positions.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin has the third-most votes among inside linebackers behind only Fred Warner and Roquan Smith. He currently ranks second in total tackles (130) and solo tackles (80). Franklin has never been voted to the Pro Bowl.

Left guard Quenton Nelson has enjoyed a bounce-back season and is currently seventh among guards in Pro Bowl voting. He’s back to moving people at will in the run game, and his 16 total pressures allowed ranks 12th among guards with at least 319 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl five times in his first six seasons.

Cornerback Kenny Moore II also is enjoying a bounce-back campaign in Gus Bradley’s system. Even though the NFL still doesn’t have a slot defender position for the Pro Bowl, Moore ranks 10th among cornerbacks in Pro Bowl voting. His 71.6 passer rating allowed in coverage ranks 11th among cornerbacks with at least 275 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. His 70.2 passer rating allowed from the slot is the best mark among all slot defenders.

There do appear to be a few snubs from the list. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is once again having a stellar season and continues to be one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL.

Making a case for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been difficult in the past, but he warrants consideration this season. He ranks fourth in receptions (87) and 14th in receiving yards (889), doing so with a backup quarterback.

The edge rusher group is deep every year, but the Colts have gotten some strong production from Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye while safety Julian Blackmon has the sixth-lowest passer rating allowed in coverage among safeties with at least 262 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fan voting for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games continues until Monday, Dec. 25. That will account for one-third of the votes with NFL players and coaches casting their votes on Friday, Dec. 29, accounting for the final two-thirds.

The 2024 Pro Bowl Games will begin with a skill competition on Feb. 1, 2024, and conclude on Feb. 4, 2024, with the flag football game.

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Colts’ Zaire Franklin nominated for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award

Zaire Franklin is the Colts’ nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was nominated for the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the league announced Tuesday.

Each team has a nominee for the award, which is described as “the league’s most prestigious honor and acknowledges NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game.”

Here is more about the award from the team’s release:

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is the most prestigious honor an NFL player can receive. The recipient of the 2023 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will be announced during the annual NFL Honors show prior to Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 8, 2024. Each Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee will receive up to $55,000, and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.

Through his foundation, Shelice’s Angels (named after his late mother, Shelice), Franklin has hosted workshops, seminars and trips designed to arm young women with the tools, confidence and role models they need to succeed as professionals. Franklin founded Shelice’s Angels in 2019, and over the last four years has seen the young women he’s worked with grow up – and be well-equipped to eventually enter professional environments in fields such as business and technology.

Franklin has been a staple in the locker room and on the field for the Colts since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. His impact on the community has been just as strong since he joined the Colts, and it’s no surprise he’s the team nominee.

The last time a Colts player won the award was Peyton Manning in 2005.

What Colts are saying about Titans ahead of Week 13

What the Colts are saying about the Titans ahead of their Week 13 matchup.

The Indianapolis Colts will have a golden opportunity in Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, as not only can they sweep the season series with their division rival, they can effectively put Tennessee away for good.

Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner is well aware of the opportunity at hand but is expecting a “dog fight” against the Titans on Sunday.

“Yeah, we know it’s going to be a dog fight. They’ve been playing really well at home all year obviously,” Buckner said. “Yeah, any division game is always going to be a dog fight.

“Shoot, personally I haven’t swept the Titans since I’ve been here. So, it’s a great opportunity to do that and also stack another win in the win column and make this playoff push. They are the next obstacle in the way and we’ve got to continue to be at our best in all three phases.”

Now, a look at what else the Colts are saying ahead of Sunday’s rematch.

5 ruled out, 12 questionable in Colts vs. Patriots

Injury designations for Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) and New England Patriots (2-7) are just about ready to face off for an overseas matchup in Week 10 at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

On the final injury report for Week 10, the Colts ruled out two players earlier in the week while three others are listed as questionable. Meanwhile, the Patriots ruled out three players and have nine listed as questionable.

We will update changes to a player’s status that are announced Saturday before the game.

Here’s a look at the players with injury designations going into the Week 10 matchup:

Colts vs. Patriots: Final injury report in Week 10

The final injury report for the Colts and Patriots in Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) and New England Patriots (2-7) released their final injury reports Friday ahead of the Week 10 matchup at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

Here’s a look at the final injury report for the Colts in Week 9:

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

Notes

  • The Colts conducted a walkthrough Friday.
  • CB Julius Brents and TE Drew Ogletree were ruled out Thursday and did not travel with the team to Germany due to injuries.
  • Despite not practicing at all this week, WR Josh Downs is listed as questionable.
  • RT Braden Smith has been listed as a full participant for three consecutive practices, which means we should expect his return this week.
  • WR Alec Pierce and LB Zaire Franklin were both full participants at Friday’s walkthrough but are listed as questionable.

Here’s a look at the final injury report for the Patriots in Week 10:

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Colts vs. Patriots: Updated injury report for Week 10

Thursday’s injury report for the Colts and Patriots in Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) and New England Patriots (2-78) released their updated injury reports Thursday ahead of the Week 10 matchup at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Colts in Week 9:

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

Notes

  • The Colts returned to real practice Thursday after conducting a walkthrough Wednesday.
  • CB Julius Brents and TE Drew Ogletree were ruled out and will not travel with the team to Germany due to injuries.
  • Despite not practicing yet this week, WR Josh Downs is traveling with the team to give him a chance to play.
  • RT Braden Smith has been listed as a full participant for two consecutive practices, which means we should expect his return this week.
  • WR Alec Pierce was added to the injury report Thursday so that will be something to monitor going into the weekend.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Patriots in Week 10:

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