Colts QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) will not have any restrictions to start training camp, according to Colts GM Chris Ballard.
Colts beat writer Nate Atkins believes “the upside is still extremely high" on TE Jelani Woods. The 25-year-old missed all of last season with a hamstring injury. Back healthy, Atkins points out Woods’ freakish athleticism and the opportunity awaiting him at TE.
The Athletic's James Boyd highlighted WR Josh Downs as the Colts' 2024 breakout player. It's a noteworthy selection after Indianapolis added WR Adonai Mitchell with the 52nd overall pick of this spring's draft. Downs, though, was a Round 3 pick just a year ago. And Boyd noted that he and QB Anthony Richardson connected often this spring.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson will be a "full go" for training camp, GM Chris Ballard said. Richardson is working back from surgery on his throwing shoulder and experienced some soreness earlier this month. He sat out the final day of minicamp.
Colts TE Jelani Woods dealt with recurring injuries to both hamstrings throughout last year. He hurt one last offseason and then the other when attempting to return during the season. He didn't play a single game in 2023. But Woods focused on strengthening his hamstrings, quads, and hips this offseason and believes he's solved the problem.
SI.com's Jake Arthur says "it was quite clear that Trey Sermon is the next man up at running back" coming out of recent Colts OTAs. That followed voluntary sessions RB Jonathan Taylor missed for personal reasons. Arthur adds that RB Evan Hull "appeared to get the initial looks" as passing-down back ahead of RB Tyler Goodson.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson is "progressing really well" from October shoulder surgery, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I'm told Richardson feels he's full go at this point," Fowler adds. "He's been throwing for a while now. He's gradually grown to where he can throw full time with minimal restrictions. The Colts could be deliberate. They could hold him out for OTAs, 11-man work, minicamp, but the feeling is he wants to get started." The Colts would be wise to play it safe with Richardson's return, but it continues to sound like he'll be back to 100% well ahead of Week 1. With a sixth-round best ball ADP, Richardson is one of the biggest risk/reward picks at his position.
The Colts selected Texas WR Adonai Mitchell in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. The 6’2, 205-pounder registered a 4.34-second 40 time and 39.5-inch vertical at the Combine. It earned him a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score that ranks 5th out of 3,402 WRs from 1987 to 2024. Mitchell’s college production never matched that size-athleticism combo, though. He totaled just 38 catches in 21 games for Georgia across 2021 and 2022, with a left high-ankle sprain ruining his sophomore season. Mitchell transferred to Texas this past year and set career highs with 55 catches, 845 yards, and 11 TDs. But he ranked a distant second to WR Xavier Worthy in catches and yards and underwhelmed in advanced metrics. Among 286 WRs with 50+ targets last year, Mitchell ranked just 98th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 179th in yards per route. His raw athleticism shows up on deep balls and contested catches, but the tape also shows below-average play strength and inconsistent effort. The ceiling here is undoubtedly high if everything clicks. But the floor is also scary-low. We’ve seen plenty of big, hyper-athletic WRs bust. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mitchell also didn’t interview well in the pre-draft process. With the Colts, he’ll enter training camp as the favorite to play on the outside over Alec Pierce. Even if he wins that role, Mitchell will profile as a volatile best ball pick.
The Colts made Edge Laiatu Latu the first defensive pick of the NFL Draft with the 15th selection of Round 1. Latu had to medically retire from football in the middle of his college career because of a neck injury but returned to close out a highly productive run. He racked up 33.5 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks across two seasons at UCLA. Latu then delivered a 95th-percentile speed score at 6’5, 259 pounds at the Scouting Combine. He could compete for starter-level snaps as a rookie with the Colts but won’t be a lock for such a role. Indy sports Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Dayo Odeyingbo at the position.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) "should be" ready for the start of OTAs next month, HC Shane Steichen said. Richardson underwent surgery on October 24 to repair a severe AC joint injury and was cleared to resume throwing in February. “I think what happened to him is gonna make him stronger,” Steichen said. “I know he’s super fired up and ready to roll through the spring practice and training camp and this season. ... I couldn’t be more excited to get him back going again. His limited sample size that he had in those first five weeks was impressive. He hit some plays I’ve never seen guys make.” Steichen added that keeping Richardson healthy is a priority but that he won't limit him as a runner. Richardson said earlier this offseason that he won't change his playing style, despite last year's injuries. There remains top-5 fantasy upside here.
The Colts signed QB Joe Flacco to a one-year deal worth "up to" $8.7 million, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Flacco gets $4.5 million guaranteed. The 2023 Comeback Player of the Year played well down the stretch for the Browns last season, averaging 321 passing yards on a 63% completion rate and 7.7 yards per attempt across six outings. He tossed 14 TDs but also 10 INTs. Flacco is quality insurance for the Colts behind QB Anthony Richardson, who made it through just two full games as a rookie last year. The signing makes guys like WR Michael Pittman and WR Josh Downs slightly safer fantasy bets.
The Colts have agreed to a three-year deal with WR Michael Pittman Jr. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports it'll pay $70 million ($71.5 million max), with $46 million of that guaranteed. The contract gets rid of the franchise tag, which Indy had applied to ensure the wideout didn't reach free agency. Pittman looks like a top-20 dynasty WR for the next few years. We'll see what a full season of QB Anthony Richardson means for his production. Richardson got just two full games in his rookie campaign. Check our dynasty WR rankings to see where Pittman fits in your format.
The Colts are using their franchise tag on WR Michael Pittman. The two sides have been working on a long-term deal and have until July 15 to get something done. If they don't, Pittman will play the 2024 season on a one-year, $21.8 million deal. The 26-year-old has scored as a top-20 PPR WR in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best WR14 finish last year. He's holding steady at 16th in our dynasty WR rankings.
Texas WR Xavier Worthy stole the headlines with his 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the Combine on Saturday. But teammate Adonai Mitchell had the more impressive overall workout. The junior wideout earned a 9.98 Relative Athletic Score, a composite measurement of athleticism that factors in all the Combine tests and player size. It's the eighth-highest RAS score among 3,063 WRs from 1987 to 2024. Mitchell checked into Indianapolis at 6'2, 205 pounds and then registered a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, a 39.5-inch vertical, and a 136-inch broad jump. Considered a potential first-round pick prior to that showing, Mitchell now seems like a good bet to hear his name called on the first night of April's draft. His dynasty stock is ascending.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson was recently cleared to resume throwing, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. Richardson had surgery on his right shoulder in October but is 6-8 weeks ahead of schedule in his rehab, per Holder. It sounds like Richardson will be able to participate in at least some of the offseason program and should be a full-go come training camp. Multiple injuries limited him to just two full games as a rookie last year -- but he finished QB4 in fantasy points both of those weeks. A healthy Richardson has easy top-5 fantasy upside in 2024 and beyond. See where he sits in our initial 2024 fantasy football QB rankings.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson said Thursday that he doesn't plan on changing his playing style going forward, despite suffering multiple injuries during his rookie season. "There's a time and a place to be physical," he said. "I love being physical. That's my nature. ... I don't think I played reckless. I think I played the right way." Richardson played just two full games this past year and ran 10 times in both. He totaled 25 carries on 15% of Indianapolis' offensive snaps -- which equates to 166 carries over a full, healthy season. There's huge rushing upside with Richardson in 2024 and beyond. He also said Thursday that he plans on resuming throwing in February after his October shoulder surgery.
Colts CB Kenny Moore II (back) graduated to a full practice Wednesday. He started the week with a limited Tuesday workout after missing last Sunday's win over the Raiders. It looks like Moore should return for this Saturday's clash with the Texans. He made a decent 6 tackles (including 5 solos and 1 tackle for loss) against Houston back in Week 2. You can find Moore in our Week 18 DB rankings.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. returned from missing Week 16 with a shoulder injury to regain control of the team's receiving in Sunday's win over the Raiders. Pittman posted an unimpressive 5-46 receiving line on 7 targets. But he drew a target on 30.4% of the team's pass attempts and claimed 33.3% of Colts completions. WR Alec Pierce took his lone catch for a 58-yard TD to lead the team in receiving yards. Rookie WR Josh Downs followed with 53 yards on just 2 receptions. QB Gardner Minshew attempted just 23 passes, completing 15 for 224 yards on a day that found Indy running on more than half of its offensive plays. Pittman looks like the only startable Colts pass-catcher for most fantasy formats in Week 18. Indy faces Houston, which allowed Pittman 8 receptions back in Week 2. Pittman also caught 8+ passes in six straight full outings before the Week 15 game he left early.
Colts CB Kenny Moore (back) is inactive for today's game against the Raiders. That leaves Indy without two starting DBs, after S Julian Blackmon recently landed on IR with a shoulder injury. That improves the matchup for Raiders WRs, but QB Aidan O'Connell keeps the group from being exciting.
Colts WR Michael Pittman (concussion, shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Raiders. He was a full-go in practice on Thursday and Friday and should be ready for his usual high-volume role today.
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