Quenton Nelson didn’t hide the tug of war in the moment. On one hand, the eight-time Pro Bowl guard is heading to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, a move he was happy to hear about. On the other, leaving Indianapolis hit him the way you’d expect after spending his entire NFL career there.
“The reaction, I've got to admit, was a little bittersweet,” Nelson said Thursday in his first public comments since the trade, per Brady Henderson of ESPN. “I formed a lot of great relationships in Indy.
Great community there. But definitely excited for this next chapter.”
The deal came as part of what has turned into a Colts reset. After team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired former general manager Chris Ballard on Oct.
19, Indianapolis dropped to 2-5 and then moved Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Wide receiver Josh Downs is also hoping for a move before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, while star running back Jonathan Taylor appears likely to remain.
For Nelson, the trade talk became real when he met with interim Colts GM Ed Dodds.
“I met with [interim Colts GM Ed Dodds] the day before the trade, and he told me that they were fielding calls and there were a few teams interested, one of them being Seattle,” Nelson said about the move. “But he said, 'How do I feel about it?'
I was like, 'If that's what you guys got to do, then great.' I was happy when he called me in the next day and told me it's Seattle.”
Nelson is on an expiring contract, and for now he’s not looking too far ahead. The Seahawks are expected to wait until after the season to talk about a new deal with the 30-year-old.
“I haven't really thought about it,” Nelson said about his future beyond the ongoing campaign. “I'm just excited to be here and going to do my best and control what I can control.”
His attention is on getting himself ready for Monday, when Seattle hosts the 5-2 Chicago Bears, who added star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
“He's an amazing football player and competitor,” Nelson said about Simmons. “I was like, 'Man, I can't get away from this guy.' It'll be another battle against him this week.”
In Other News...
Shane Steichen Suddenly Faces A Colts Situation He May Not Survive
The Colts have already spent the week ripping up the old order, starting with the firing of Chris Ballard and then the stunning departures of Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson and All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Shane Steichen didnt try to minimize what those losses mean, acknowledging the value of both veterans while also pointing to the younger players now being asked to absorb a much bigger role in a hurry.
For Steichen, the challenge is no longer just replacing talent on the field. With speculation already swirling around possible moves involving Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs, the roster feels like it is still in motion, and so does the coachs own standing. The Colts are suddenly in a place where every decision carries extra weight, and Steichens future may hinge on how well the next wave of players handles the pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face One Huge Free Agency Question Around Anthony Richardson
The Colts uneven season has already produced one major shakeup, with Chris Ballard out as general manager while Shane Steichen remains in place. With Indianapolis expected to be a seller before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, the focus is starting to shift from this years disappointments to what the roster could look like next fall, especially with several notable names moving toward free agency.
Among the biggest questions is Anthony Richardson, whose future is tied to how the quarterback picture settles over the rest of the season. Grover Stewart is also nearing a crossroads, and Keenan Allen is in the same uncertain group, but Richardsons situation carries the most weight because it could reshape the Colts long-term direction at the games most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Finally Get A Needed Boost In A Very Strange Week 8
For a Colts team that has spent a strange week sorting through injuries, lineup shuffling and the fallout from a pair of major trades, there was at least some clarity heading into Week 8. Shane Steichen said cornerback Sauce Gardner and tight end Tyler Warren will be available against the Jaguars, giving Indianapolis a needed boost on both sides of the ball as it tries to steady itself after parting with DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson.
The availability report still leaves the roster in a mixed state, though, with Anthony Gould and Justin Walley ruled out because of injuries. Add in the uncertainty around players such as Josh Downs and Jonathan Taylor, who were not played in a week when trade considerations seemed to be part of the backdrop, and the Colts are still navigating a very unusual stretch even with a couple of key names set to return. [Read more 🡒]