The Colts didn’t pick up a running back in the
draft
Antonio Morrison
Jersey , so they went the veteran free agent route to fill out their
backfield.The team announced on Tuesday that they have signed former Chiefs
running back Spencer Ware. He joins Kansas City teammate Justin Houston and wide
receiver Devin Funchess as free agent additions in Indianapolis.Ware visited
with the Colts earlier this month as part of a tour that also saw him spend time
with the Jets and Lions. Ware returned from missing the entire 2017 season with
a knee injury to appear in 13 games for the Chiefs last season. He ran 51 times
for 246 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 20 passes for 224
yards.Marlon Mack was the leading rusher for the Colts last season. 2018 draft
picks Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines round out the backfield group.In addition
to signing Ware, the Colts also parted ways with safety Isaiah Johnson,
defensive tackle DeShawn Williams and wide receiver James Wright. INDIANAPOLIS —
Andrew Luck‘s most recent snap with the starting offense came in January. Adam
Vinatieri, the NFL’s career scoring leader, missed Indy’s first two preseason
games with an injured knee. All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson missed all of last
week with a sore ankle. Starting defensive end Jabaal Sheard hasn’t practiced
since early August because of a problematic knee.So far, the Colts have managed
to adapt. But with the Sept. 8 season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers
quickly approaching, coach Frank Reich needs answers.“By the end of the third
preseason game, I think you just have to know something. You’ve got to be able
to make a call, a move, and move on from
there
Kenny Moore Color
Rush Jersey ,” Reich said last week. “Whether we’re full speed with Andrew
after that third preseason game or, at that point, are we going to go with
Jacoby (Brissett)?”It appears the Colts may finally have turned the corner on
Luck’s lower left leg injury.General manager Chris Ballard said Luck’s rehab
routine changed last week when doctors determined the lingering pain came from
the front, not the back between the calf and ankle.On Saturday, he was on the
field for pregame warmups — his first open “workout” since July 28.If Luck keeps
progressing, then the questions will turn into: How soon can he play?“We won’t
as an organization put any player out there that can’t perform at a high level,”
Ballard said. “I’m not going to put players at risk. So if we feel comfortable,
Frank and I and our staff feel comfortable that he can play, then he’ll
play.”Reich has said repeatedly he will use Luck’s input to determine when he
can go.Even if Luck doesn’t start the opener, the Colts insist this season won’t
be a repeat of 2017 when they won four games and missed the playoffs for the
third straight year. They believe in
Brissett
https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Jeremiah-George-Jersey ,
who started 15 games that season, and they have a stronger supporting cast.But,
of course, with Luck, the Colts would be a legitimate title contender.“I don’t
know if he is going to be ready or not (for Week 1),” Reich said. “We’ll
see.”52View Gallery
Gallery:Greetings from Westfield: Colts training camp 2019AP | Copyright The
Associated Press. All rights reserved.GREAT EXPECTATIONSThere’s a direct
correlation between Luck’s health and Indy’s success. In the four seasons he’s
been healthy, the Colts made the playoffs. In the three seasons he fought off
injuries, the Colts missed the postseason.And if the reigning Comeback Player of
the Year stays healthy in 2019, the Colts will be favored to win the AFC South.
But the Colts understand they have to play better — with or without their
franchise quarterback.“I know we all want him to have the full-go reps, but we
as an entire group have to really focus on getting better ourselves each and
every day
Denico Autry
Jersey ,” offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni said. “As they get better,
Andrew will play better. I think we’re still growing. I think we can be where we
want to be Game 1 — even without Andrew practicing right now.”LINING UPTwo
rookies, Nelson at left guard and Braden Smith at right tackle, coupled with the
return of center Ryan Kelly and the emergence of right guard Mark Glowinski,
helped one of the league’s worst offensive lines in 2017 become a top-five line
last season. With all five starters back, the group has a new goal: producing a
top-five rushing offense.So far, with Nelson and Kelly (shoulder) battling
injuries and left tackle Anthony Castonzo taking extra days off, the line hasn’t
looked the same.“We need to be better,” Castonzo said after losing a preseason
game at Buffalo. “I think it’s just going to come down to the fundamentals,
getting back to doing the things you’ve been doing since you were 10 years old:
hands inside
Nyheim Hines
Color Rush Jersey , moving your feet and just playing better
football.”LEONARD’S ENCOREWhat does linebacker Darius Leonard do for an encore
after leading the league in tackles and being chosen an All-Pro as a
rookie?Achieve higher goals.“I wasn’t named MVP, I wasn’t a Super Bowl champion
and I wasn’t a Pro Bowler,” Leonard said. “So there are still goals I didn’t
reach last year.”Leonard believes better fundamentals will help him reduce the
number of missed tackles and he hopes to create more turnovers.DEPTH
CHARTDespite Sheard’s injury, the Colts have beefed up their pass rush by
singing 2014 NFL sacks champion Justin Houston.The most notable change
defensively might be a deep secondary, loaded with talent.Recently re-signed
cornerbacks Pierre Desir and Kenny Moore II and second-round draft Rock Ya-Sin,
an emerging playmaker, could help the Colts become a top 10
defense.100View Gallery
Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
| Raj Mehta
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