Justin Walley hasn’t taken a regular-season snap for the Colts, and he’s already being treated like a key piece.
That’s how strong his hold on the nickel job looks after Indianapolis gave him the night off in the preseason game against the New England Patriots. For a second-year player who missed all of last season, that kind of treatment says plenty.
Walley is stepping into the spot long held by Kenny Moore, who first tried to force a move this offseason, then asked to be released when nothing came together. Indianapolis granted that request. Even with Moore out of the picture, there’s a sense the Colts may have already seen enough from Walley to believe he was the better fit anyway.
That confidence didn’t come out of nowhere. Walley flashed in training camp a year ago before tearing his ACL during a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, wiping out his rookie season before it began. Still, the Colts had seen enough to believe his future in Indianapolis was real.
This summer, he’s picked up right where he left off. He also has something he didn’t have a year ago: a full understanding of what defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo wants from his defense. Walley seems like the kind of player who can absorb, process and then execute.
He was one of the standouts in Indianapolis’ short practice on Saturday, especially in a red-zone period where he kept knocking away passes from receivers. That matters a lot for a nickelback, where the space is tight, the routes are quick and one step of separation can turn into six points in a hurry.
There’s still a big test ahead for Walley, though. Practice is one thing.
Games are another. And his role won’t mirror what Moore did for most of his Colts run, either.
Under Anarumo, the slot corner won’t be on the field every snap. Moore used to play more than 90 percent of defensive snaps before that number dropped to around 70 percent last season.
That setup could actually help Walley settle in faster. Indianapolis has serious talent on the outside with Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, as long as Ward stays healthy. If both are available for most or all of the season, the Colts can lean more on press coverage, which could free Walley up to make plays in other areas.
He’s already shown the quickness and route recognition to hold up in coverage during practice, and he may even add something extra in run support. At Minnesota, he was strong in that phase, and the expectation is that he’ll be better there than Moore.
So while Walley still has to prove it when the games count, the Colts clearly believe they found their answer. And before long, Indianapolis fans may not be thinking much about Kenny Moore at all.
In Other News...
Riley Leonard Just Made The Colts Backup Battle A Lot Tighter
The Colts preseason tie with the Patriots did little to settle the backup quarterback picture behind Daniel Jones, and the competition between Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson only looks more crowded after a 13-13 finish. Neither player separated himself in a game that mostly underscored how much Indianapolis still has to sort through before the regular season, with both quarterbacks flashing enough to stay in the conversation and enough unevenness to keep the door open.
Leonard had a rough night overall, and Richardson was hardly more convincing, as each put the ball in danger and failed to produce the kind of clean, sustained drive that might have tilted the job battle. Leonard did show a few positive signs late, but the bigger takeaway for the Colts is that this decision remains unsettled, with preseason reps now carrying even more weight for two young passers trying to make their case. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Brought In A Record-Setting Quarterback For A Tryout
The Colts took a closer look at a small but intriguing group of free agents in a recent tryout, bringing in five players as they continue to sort through depth options. Among them was quarterback Mark Gronowski, whose college career came with plenty of production before a brief stop with Miami ended quickly, and whose one season at Iowa only added to the sense that he is still a developmental name worth monitoring.
Indianapolis also worked out three veteran receivers in Josh Reynolds, TreQuan Smith and Equanimeous St. Brown, plus cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau, a former Texas starter. For the Colts, the mix says a lot about where roster churn can still matter this time of year, with experience on the perimeter and a young defensive back all getting a look as the team keeps evaluating who might fit into the next wave of depth moves. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Walley Is Making The Colts Cornerback Picture A Lot Harder
Justin Walley has given the Colts something to think about early in camp, and he did it in a setting where defensive backs can make a real statement. The rookie cornerback, who has not played in an NFL game yet, stood out during a training camp practice by getting his hands on two passes in the end zone, a notable flash for a player trying to climb the depth chart in a crowded secondary.
The timing matters because Indianapolis is still sorting through its cornerback options while several players were either injured or working their way back during the session. On the other side of the ball, Daniel Jones and the offense had a mixed red-zone day, finishing 7 of 13 through the air, while backups Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson also had solid moments. For a defense looking for answers, Walleys performance only makes the rotation discussion more interesting. [Read more 🡒]