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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Latest On Colts, Marlon Mack

October 24th, 2021 at 2:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this month, the Colts promised Marlon Mack that they’d try to trade him elsewhere. But, as it stands, it doesn’t sound like teams offered enough for the running back (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 

The Colts have received calls with reported interest from the 49ers, Panthers and Saints. However, the Niners aren’t quite as RB-needy as they were just a few weeks ago — JaMycal Hasty has been cleared to play against the Colts tonight while GM John Lynch says he’s bullish on Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon. Fellow RB Jeff Wilson could also return in a matter of weeks. Lynch characterized his talks with Indy as casual, given his relationship with GM Chris Ballard, but there’s little doubt that he’ll be paying attention to Mack this evening.

Prior to his Achilles setback, Mack totaled 1,999 rushing yards between 2018 and ’19. Behind Jonathan Taylor this year, Mack has gained 97 yards on 25 carries, good for 3.9 yards per tote. Of course, that’s been in a small sample size, so Mack is hoping to show his stuff elsewhere as a regular.

“I’m definitely young,” Mack said earlier this year. “That’s the thing. In this business as a running back, they say I’m an old man already, but I’m only 25…That’s why it’s like, ‘Man, I’ve got to go out there and get it now.’ Next year teams may be like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want that old running back.’”

Colts Activate Quenton Nelson From IR

October 23rd, 2021 at 1:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Quenton Nelson will end up spending the minimum number of games during his first IR stay. The Colts activated the All-Pro guard ahead of Sunday night’s game against the 49ers.

A high ankle sprain stopped the three-time All-Pro’s start streak at 51 to start his career. Nelson kept that run going despite having foot surgery during training camp. Although Indianapolis went 2-1 without its top lineman, this certainly qualifies as good news for the team’s prospects in its second nationally televised game in three weeks.

The Colts will not have Braden Smith available, however. Indy’s right tackle will miss a sixth straight game due to foot and thumb injuries. Unlike Nelson, Smith has not spent time on IR this season. Nelson returned to practice earlier this week. Nelson, 25, will continue his track toward what will almost certainly be a record-setting guard extension. The Colts extended fellow 2018 draftees Smith, Darius Leonard and Nyheim Hines earlier this year. Nelson, however, has an extra year remaining on his contract thanks to the fifth-year option.

The Colts made room for Nelson by placing Julian Blackmon on IR. The second-year safety suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in practice this week. Former second-round pick Josh Jones, who joined the Colts’ practice squad this week, is now on the team’s active roster for its San Francisco trip. So is veteran wideout Keke Coutee. The Colts ruled T.Y. Hilton out earlier on Saturday. Hilton made his return from a neck injury last week, but he is now battling a quad ailment.

Parris Campbell Undergoes Foot Surgery

October 22nd, 2021 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

A Colts second-round pick in 2019, Parris Campbell has been unable to stay healthy as a pro. The young wide receiver underwent another surgery Friday (Twitter link), one that will shelve him for a while.

Campbell suffered a foot injury during the Colts’ Week 6 win over the Texans, continuing a troublesome trend for the former Ohio State standout. It is not certain if this injury — like Campbell’s knee malady sustained in Week 2 of last season — will knock him out for the year, but he is back on IR and not in Indianapolis’ aerial equation for the foreseeable future.

The Colts are not shutting Campbell down for the season just yet, with Frank Reich indicating a two- to three-month rehab effort is on tap, via CBS4’s Mike Chappell (on Twitter). A late-December return, it appears, would be the best-case scenario. Campbell having a chance to play again this season may hinge on the Colts (2-4) being in contention in the AFC South.

This is obviously familiar territory for Campbell. In addition to the serious knee injury he encountered last season, he suffered a broken foot as a rookie and dealt with a hernia issue and a broken hand that year. Campbell played in seven games as a rookie and just two in 2020. This season, he suited up for five Colts contests and topped 50 receiving yards in each of the past two. He got there with one catch in Week 6, hauling in a 51-yard TD from Carson Wentz in Indy’s 31-3 victory.

The Colts have T.Y. Hilton back and still have Zach Pascal as an auxiliary pass catcher. They join blossoming talent Michael Pittman Jr. Hilton and Pascal are free agents after this season, while Campbell is signed through 2022. Though, his injury issues will likely prompt the Colts to make a significant receiver investment in the offseason.

Colts Restructure WR T.Y. Hilton’s Contract

October 21st, 2021 at 5:14pm CST by Ben Levine

The Colts have opened up a chunk of cap space. The team restructured the contract of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

The veteran wideout inked a new one-year, $8MM deal with the Colts this past offseason, and today’s move will save the organization around $2.3MM in cap space. Per Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star (on Twitter), the team converted some of Hilton’s base salary into a signing bonus while adding a void year.

The Colts placed Hilton on IR before Week 1, and he underwent surgery after suffering a neck injury in practice. The 31-year-old returned to the field last weekend, hauling in all four of his targets for 80 yards. Four wide receivers (Parris Campbell, JJ Nelson, Quartney Davis, and Dezmon Patmon) are sitting on injured reserve, so Hilton’s return came at the perfect time.

The veteran hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2018, but he’ll still provide Carson Wentz with a reliable target. Hilton finished the 2020 campaign with 56 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.

Several Teams Looking Into Marlon Mack

October 21st, 2021 at 10:53am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts have used Marlon Mack sparingly this season, but the fifth-year running back continues to generate some interest ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline. Linked to Mack earlier this month, the Chiefs have some company on this front.

While the Chiefs continue to be connected to the former 1,000-yard rusher, USA Today’s Josina Anderson notes the 49ers, Panthers and Saints have also checked in with the Colts on Mack recently (Twitter link). Mack re-signed with the Colts on a one-year deal but has been on the trade block for a bit now.

Indianapolis has Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines locked in as its long-term duo, with Mack logging just 25 carries thus far this season. Mack suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in Week 1 of last season but has recovered. Taylor gained control of the Colts’ backfield during Mack’s hiatus, and Indy agreed to make an effort at finding Mack a landing spot via trade.

Carolina is without Christian McCaffrey for at least two more games, having placed him on IR with a troublesome hamstring injury last week. Fourth-round rookie Chuba Hubbard leads the Panthers’ backfield, which lost Mike Davis in free agency in March. The Saints released Latavius Murray before Week 1 and are without backup Tony Jones for the time being, while the 49ers have run into a litany of injury issues at running back. San Francisco lost Raheem Mostert for the year, and Kyle Shanahan is targeting November for Jeff Wilson (PUP) to return from his foot injury. The 49ers have also seen promising rookie Elijah Mitchell and veteran JaMycal Hasty run into injury trouble.

Prior to Mack’s Achilles setback, he totaled 1,999 rushing yards between the 2018 and ’19 seasons. Behind Taylor this year, Mack has gained 97 yards on 25 carries. The 25-year-old back is due less than $750K in base salary the rest of the way.

Colts S Julian Blackmon Tears Achilles

October 21st, 2021 at 8:52am CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries continue to affect the Colts early in the season. The team will now be without safety Julian Blackmon for the season’s remainder, after the second-year starter suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in practice Wednesday. The Colts announced the injury.

A third-round pick last year, Blackmon quickly ascended to a starting role for the Colts as a rookie and delivered a strong first season. He will now be forced into extensive rehab less than halfway through his rookie contract. Blackmon stands to be the 20th Colt placed on IR since the start of training camp.

Blackmon took over for Malik Hooker as a starter in September 2020, breaking into Indianapolis’ lineup after the former first-round pick suffered a torn Achilles. Blackmon has started 20 games since and had been one of the most dependable players on a team stricken with injuries early in its 2-4 season.

The Colts have 12th-year veteran Andrew Sendejo on the roster as a possible replacement. The journeyman defender has played 121 defensive snaps this season, filling in for starter Khari Willis. The Colts signed Sendejo after Week 1, but he missed last week’s game after suffering a concussion against the Ravens. George Odum and former second-rounder Josh Jones, who joined the team’s practice squad this week, serve as other options in the wake of Blackmon’s setback.

Seahawks Claim QB Jacob Eason

October 20th, 2021 at 5:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Jacob Eason has found his next job. After getting waived yesterday by the Colts, the quarterback has been claimed by the Seahawks, reports ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter).

The Seahawks have been sniffing around for some reinforcement at quarterback following Russell Wilson‘s placement on IR. Geno Smith will continue to sit atop the depth chart, and Eason will temporarily serve as his backup. Seattle is also rostering Jake Luton and Danny Etling on their practice squad.

Eason found himself on the outside looking in during his time in Indy. He was already the third-stringer QB behind Carson Wentz and Brett Hundley, and the team decided to move on from the 2020 fourth-round pick after activating 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger from IR.

Eason had a breakout college campaign in 2019, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions after transferring from Georgia to Washington. He made his NFL debut in Week 2, completing two of his five pass attempts for 25. He also tossed an interception.

Colts’ Quenton Nelson Returns To Practice

October 20th, 2021 at 2:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Colts guard Quenton Nelson has been designated for return. Ditto for rookie defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and wide receiver Dezmon Patmon, who also took to the practice field on Wednesday.

Nelson could potentially play against the 49ers on Sunday night, but that’ll all depend on how his practice sessions go this week. Whenever he returns, it’ll be a big boost to the Colts’ front five.

“[He’s] an elite leader, not just an elite player,” head coach Frank Reich said earlier this month (via ESPN.com).

The multiple-time All-Pro has been sidelined for weeks with a high-ankle sprain, unfamiliar territory for the otherwise healthy lineman. Before this, Nelson hadn’t missed a game through his first three years in the NFL.

Nelson, the sixth-overall pick in the 2018 draft, stands as one of the top offensive guards in the game. Barring any further complications, he’s expected to ink a record-setting extension come next year. In the meantime, he’s focused on the task at hand — helping the Colts gain ground in the AFC South.

After an 0-3 start, the Colts have rallied somewhat to win two of their last three. Now 2-4, the Colts have a chance to close in on the 4-2 Titans.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/21

October 19th, 2021 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

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