9/16 indystar colts info

[JAFF]

Gameday

The NFL might get to see the first matchup between Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud this weekend, and it might not.

Richardson is all set for his first Colts road start on Sunday, but Stroud is questionable on the Texans' game status report. He suffered a shoulder injury in Friday's practice.

If Stroud is unable to go, Houston has Davis Mills and Case Keenum as backups.

Stroud was the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, and Richardson went two picks later to the Colts. The draft went down after the two teams met in Week 18 last season, and a Texans' win on a Hail Mary dropped them out of the No. 1 pick, which went toward Bryce Young.

Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud gets past Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Now, the two quarterbacks are in the same division and could play twice a year for quite some time if both can hit on their potential. They had similar debuts in Week 1, both throwing for more than 200 yards in losses.


Richardson and Stroud spent some time together in the pre-draft process and have expressed respect for one another. But Richardson can remember back to when he tried to level up to Will Levis in a game between Florida and Kentucky last year, which taught him a lesson about such comparisons.

“The last time I tried to compete with somebody else, I didn’t play great,” Richardson said. “I’m just focused on myself, focused on my details and trying to help my teammates.”


The Texans ruled out starting safeties Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is questionable.

The Colts have not ruled out any players but have listed All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson (toe) and tight end Drew Ogletree (brain) as questionable to play.

[JAFF]

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor posts 5-second video of workout

ianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor posted a 5-second video on Instagram on Friday of himself running a pass route at the Colts indoor facility with "Loading ..." imposed over it.

Taylor has not practiced with the team this season due to an ankle injury suffered last year and has been embroiled in a contract dispute. The surgical procedure he had to correct his ankle injury usually takes several weeks to recover from but Taylor has been out months. He is currently on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first four weeks of the season.


On Aug. 29, Fox59’s Mike Chappell reported the team believed Taylor was lying about the severity of his ankle injury but general manager Chris Ballard said the following day that Taylor was still dealing with pain in his ankle.

Prior to Sunday's season opener, ESPN and the NFL Network reported Taylor was targeting a minimum stay on the PUP list and the video would seem to be an effort to show he will be able to return for Week 5. The Colts got 25 yards on 16 carries with 2 fumbles from running backs in Sunday's opener; Zack Moss, Taylor primary backup, appears ready to play this week after missing the opener due to a broken arm.

Moss looks like he will be playing sunday

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor posts 5-second video of workout



Moss looks like he will be playing sunday

Good, because Deon Jackson sucks. Absolutely no vision.

[JAFF]

Insider: 14 things to watch in Colts vs. Texans

1. Stroud popped up on the Houston injury report with an injury to his throwing shoulder, and the rookie is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If Stroud cannot play, the Texans would likely turn to Davis Mills, who has been the team’s primary starting quarterback the past two seasons.


2. The availability of Stroud is a big deal for the FOX affiliates carrying the game. It is likely less of an issue for the Indianapolis defense. While Stroud and Mills are different quarterbacks, both are primarily pocket passers, and in Stroud’s first start against Baltimore last week, his passing profile was a lot like the one Mills put together: a capable thrower who didn’t attack much down the field. The one key difference, at least from the small sample size of Stroud’s career so far, is the rookie took five sacks without throwing an interception in nearly 50 dropbacks last week, and Mills has limited sacks but thrown 25 interceptions the past two seasons.

3. Unlike Jacksonville, a team that tested a young Colts cornerback room with big-name receivers, the Texans have little star power at the receiver position outside. A 33-year-old Robert Woods is Houston’s No. 1 receiver, a consistent possession receiver who no longer has the same deep speed, and the Texans hope third-year target Nico Collins can build on the six-catch, 80-yard performance he posted in the opener against Baltimore. Darrell Baker Jr. was victimized on two key plays by Jacksonville receivers; the task is much easier this week.


4. Houston’s big free-agent signing on offense, former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz, caught just two passes for four yards in the opener, but it’s likely the Texans want to get him more involved, although Indianapolis strong safety Julian Blackmon has the coverage skills to play in the nickel and could be a tough test.

Why the Colts pass rush could get a boost this week

5. A strong Indianapolis front made life difficult on Jacksonville’s running game, and it should dominate the line of scrimmage against the Texans this week. Houston rushed for just 72 yards on 23 carries against Baltimore, and the Texans have injuries at both tackles. Right tackle Tytus Howard is out the first four weeks after breaking his hand, putting veteran George Fant in the starting role, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil — Houston’s best player — is questionable with a knee injury that allowed him to practice only on Thursday this week.


6. The injuries at tackle should have the Colts pass rush licking its chops. Indianapolis acquitted itself well against Jacksonville’s quick-throw attack — Kwity Paye and DeForest Buckner each recorded sacks, Buckner’s leading to a wild touchdown — and Houston gave up five sacks of Stroud in the opener.

7. Shaquille Leonard turned in a solid opener, making eight tackles while playing 60 snaps, but he still believes there’s another level to hit, and it will be interesting to see if the Colts continue to give him rest. According to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Indianapolis tried to make sure Leonard didn’t take too many snaps in a row against Jacksonville, but that could change as he proves he’s ready for action.

8. Zaire Franklin was a monster against Jacksonville, following his breakout 2022 season with 18 tackles in the 2023 opener. Houston uses a two-headed approach at running back, sharing carries between Dameon Pierce — the more explosive of the two backs — and veteran Devin Singletary, but neither got going against Baltimore, and now they have to deal with Franklin.


Expect Colts RB Zack Moss to play

9. Colts running back Zack Moss, who wasn’t given an injury designation this week, will likely make his 2023 debut, and the Indianapolis ground game desperately needs Moss’ blend of vision, power and professionalism. Indianapolis running backs picked up just 25 yards on 16 carries last week, fumbled twice and ultimately left a lot of room for improvement.

10. The Colts are facing their own injuries on the offensive line. Left guard Quenton Nelson is questionable after suffering a toe injury against the Jaguars, and right tackle Braden Smith is battling knee and ankle injuries, although he practiced in full twice this week. Houston’s defensive line piled up four sacks and seven quarterback hits against Baltimore superstar Lamar Jackson last week, and although the Indianapolis offensive line played better than its four sacks allowed would indicate, a Houston front led by No. 3 pick Will Anderson will be no pushover.

11. The way Houston played against Baltimore suggests the Colts offense might be in for a similar performance this week. The Texans held Jackson to just 169 passing yards, gave up 6.3 yards per carry to the quarterback but only allowed six carries and slowed down Baltimore’s running backs, limiting them to 63 yards on 24 carries. Indianapolis didn’t have many explosive plays against Jacksonville, and it seems like the Texans are going to try to do the same.

12. One complicating factor for Houston: The Texans will not have either starting safety. Veteran Jimmie Ward remains out due to a hip injury, and rising star Jalen Pitre suffered a bruised lung against Baltimore. With those two out, Eric Murray and M.J. Stewart played a solid second half last week, and they’ll be key to keeping the Colts from pushing the ball deep.

13. Richardson completed 23 of 37 passes in his debut, looking like a more accurate passer than most expected, but a lot of his throws were short passes, targeted to the middle of the field, and the Colts produced just three passes of 20 yards or more. Expect Indianapolis to try to get its outside receivers more involved early; Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce did not have a target in the opener until the second half.

14. Pierce, the team’s best deep threat, had a quiet opener, catching just one pass for five yards. Indianapolis wants to get him involved earlier this week, facing off against a pair of Houston cornerbacks that include a veteran, Steven Nelson, and an up-and-coming star, 2022 first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr.