Stampede Blue
The Indianapolis Colts could be without two of their key cornerbacks in the short-term future, as both veteran starting cornerback Charvarius Ward and rotational 3rd-year pro Jaylon Jones are already injured.
Specifically, following Sunday’s opening week win, Ward entered into the league’s concussion protocol on Monday, while Jones reinjured the same hamstring that cost him significant time during team training camp, and per head coach Shane Steichen, the Colts are ‘working through it.’
Ward reportedly came into the Colts’ building this morning with concussion-like symptoms.
The ‘next man up’ may be recently acquired cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who played a big role off the bench in the Colts beating the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. Indianapolis could also activate undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards, who appeared to be a healthy scratch yesterday among inactives.
If there’s some encouraging news, it’s that star workhorse Jonathan Taylor, who sustained a physical hit to his neck during the third quarter on Sunday, and did not return—is apparently okay. If the score had been closer, Steichen indicated that Taylor could have returned, but with the comfortable large Colts’ lead, there was no need for it in the late 2nd half.
Instead, Indianapolis was able to get an extended look at impressive rookie running back D.J. Giddens and keep Taylor fresher for the marathon that is the NFL regular season—and allow him to rest that (sore) neck a bit longer.
