Chris Ballard’s words about CJ Allen came out sounding a lot better in March than they do now.
The Colts’ second-round linebacker was supposed to be an immediate piece for Indianapolis. Ballard made that clear after the pick, praising Allen as a player who would step right in and handle big responsibilities from the start.
But after Week 1, that vision already looks shaky. Allen was a healthy scratch in Indianapolis’ blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens and didn’t see a snap on defense or special teams.
Ballard said after drafting him, “We've liked CJ through the whole (draft) process. He stands for all the right stuff.
He's an athletic, fast MIKE. He'll be a green-dot guy for us from the get-go.
I mean, he's a face of the program type of guy. He's a really special dude now.
Loves to play, serious about football.”
That “from the get-go” line is the part that already looks off. Allen never took over the communication role in Week 1, and he never got on the field at all.
He was active, but functionally he was a non-factor. The only two players on Indianapolis’ active roster who didn’t play were Anthony Richardson, the backup quarterback, and Allen.
To be fair, Allen has only had one game to show what he can do, and there’s still plenty of season left for him to prove Ballard right. But this is also part of a bigger conversation around Ballard’s drafting, especially in the second round. The last time he landed a second-round hit was wide receiver Alec Pierce in 2022.
For now, Allen’s path to a bigger Week 2 role looks narrower, not wider. In Week 1, safety Cam Bynum handled the green dot, and even though that wasn’t Bynum’s fault, the defense had communication problems that caused delays in getting lined up.
That job shifts in Week 2 to linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, who spent several years under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo with the Cincinnati Bengals. With ADG wearing the green dot, he’ll need to be on the field nearly all the time.
That matters because only two inside linebackers are on the field for most of the game. Davis-Gaither will occupy one of those spots, while the other could be shuffled around.
Rookie Bryce Boettcher, who finished with seven tackles in Week 1, should be in line for more snaps than Allen if Allen is available at all. Jaylon Carlies, who started in Week 1 but did not record a tackle, is another name who could get work.
In Other News...
Colts Now Face A Keenan Allen Problem The NFL Could Escalate
Keenan Allens off-field situation now sits squarely in the Colts lap after the veteran receiver was charged with two misdemeanor counts tied to operating a vehicle while intoxicated following his arrest in downtown Indianapolis. Police said they observed signs of intoxication, and Allens breathalyzer test reportedly showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.224, turning a local legal matter into a much larger football concern for a team trying to keep its focus on the field.
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said the club is handling the matter internally, while any league discipline will be left to the NFL. That split is where the uncertainty begins for the Colts, because even when a team chooses to stay quiet publicly, the leagues process can quickly force the issue back into view and keep it there. [Read more 🡒]
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Now comes a Kansas City matchup that can make those concerns feel even larger if Indianapolis does not clean things up fast. The offense did not do enough to offset the defensive leaks, with Tyler Warren drawing multiple targets but making only a limited impact, and the special teams unit added to the frustration with a missed extra point and a kickoff return touchdown allowed. Against the Chiefs, the Colts will need far cleaner execution in all three phases just to keep the game from getting away early. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Face Another Alec Pierce Concern Before Chiefs Game
Alec Pierce popped back onto the Colts injury report Thursday after opening the week with a full practice, this time sitting out because of a heel issue tied to a previous injury. For a team getting ready to face the Chiefs, it is at least worth watching, especially since Pierce has been part of the offensive plan and the Colts had already seen Anthony Richardson miss Wednesday before returning to full work Thursday.
The good news for Indianapolis is that Pierce is still expected to be used fully in the matchup, with the official injury designations coming Friday. Richardson, meanwhile, is trending toward serving as the backup after his groin issue limited him briefly earlier in the week, leaving the Colts with one more small health concern to monitor before a game that will demand as much stability as they can find. [Read more 🡒]