CJ Allen may be a rookie, but he’s already working like the Colts’ defensive traffic cop.
Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has never had a rookie wear the green dot - the linebacker who takes in the play-call and relays it to the rest of the defense - but that could change quickly with Allen. After missing the early part of training camp because of a minor injury, the inside linebacker has been handling the play-calling in practice and showing he may be ready for that responsibility.
The only thing Allen seems worried about is whether everybody can keep up with his voice.
According to The Athletic’s James Boyd, Allen said, "I’m from Georgia, so I got like a little Southern twang. So, I gotta really enunciate my words.
But nah, just making sure we’re on the same page, being a communicator. The guys kind of respect that."
That’s a pretty funny concern for a player who is trying to organize an NFL defense, but it also says a lot about where Allen is at this stage. He hasn’t taken a real snap in a professional game yet, and he’s already operating like someone who knows the system inside and out. That matters even more in Anarumo’s defense, which can shift from practice to practice.
Allen also handled the green-dot role at Georgia, so this isn’t new territory for him. The jump from college to the NFL is still enormous, but Georgia’s coaching and elite talent level clearly helped get him ready for this kind of job.
There’s also a physical element to this move that should matter in Indianapolis. Allen brings a level of raw athleticism the Colts have lacked in recent years.
Zaire Franklin filled the green-dot role in previous seasons and was a vocal presence in the locker room, for better or worse, but Allen gives the defense a different kind of profile. The Green Bay Packers will learn that this season.
Looking ahead to 2026, Allen is expected to be one of the Colts’ starting off-ball linebackers. The bigger question is who lines up next to him. Indianapolis signed Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency, and he has prior experience in Anarumo’s system from their time together with the Cincinnati Bengals, which could give him an edge over rookie Bryce Boettcher.
Whoever wins that spot will need to get used to taking direction from the rookie. And if the only real obstacle is Allen’s Southern twang, the Colts may be in pretty good shape.
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