The Colts got a cleaner look in the secondary on Thursday, and that was the biggest bit of positive movement on an injury report that still has plenty of names on it.
Indianapolis and Miami are heading into Week 10 with both teams banged up, and the matchup already looks rough on paper with the two clubs combining for a 3-14 record. The injury picture only sharpens that reality. As of Thursday, six players across the two teams had not practiced all week, and Miami also placed two of its best players on injured reserve this week in quarterback Malik Willis and defensive tackle Zach Sieler.
For the Colts, the encouraging development came from the defensive backfield. Justin Walley, who had been dealing with a knee issue, and A.J. Haulcy, who has been nursing an ankle injury, both returned to full participation.
Indianapolis’ Thursday report listed Mo Alie-Cox, Jaylon Carlies, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Luke Rhodes, Grover Stewart, Jerry Tillery and Jalen Travis as did not participate. Jonathan Taylor and Charvarius Ward Sr. were full participants after resting, while Arden Key also continued as a full participant as he works back from the hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Key’s situation is one to watch closely. The Colts opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday, giving them a short runway to either activate him from IR or shut him down for the rest of the season. With full participation on both Wednesday and Thursday, a return this weekend looks possible.
If Alie-Cox can’t go Sunday, Drew Ogletree would pick up the blocking tight end work, and Indianapolis could also elevate Will Mallory or Pharaoh Brown for game day. Carlies left early in last week’s game, while Davis-Gaither missed it entirely.
Miami’s report brought its own concerns. On Wednesday, Aaron Brewer and Will Kacmarek did not participate, while Tucker Addington, Darrell Baker Jr., Chris Bell and Malik Herring were limited. Kaytron Allen, Michael Taaffe, Dante Trader and Jaylen Wright were full participants.
By Thursday, Brewer, Bell and Trader were starters, and their status is worth monitoring through the week. Brewer, in particular, has already been ruled out.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Will Want To See Why San Francisco Pivoted Away
A receiver shuffle out in San Francisco has a familiar name tied to it, and Colts fans will recognize why it matters. Kyle Shanahan said Mike Evans is close to returning from Achilles tendinitis, but the 49ers are taking a cautious approach with his recovery after he missed multiple games and landed on the week-to-week list. It is the kind of update that explains why a team can talk itself into patience even when help seems close.
Keenan Allens arrival adds another layer to the picture, especially after Shanahan had previously floated him as a trade target while the 49ers were initially linked to Josh Downs. For Indianapolis, it is a reminder of how quickly the market can shift when a contender decides it wants a proven veteran instead of waiting on a different fit. The Colts may not control what San Francisco does next, but they will certainly notice how the 49ers chose to pivot. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A New Fantasy Name Fans Should Notice
With several big-name fantasy options sidelined this week, the ripple effects are opening up value in places that usually dont draw much attention. The matchup-based DFS conversation has turned toward players who can absorb extra volume, and that has put a few under-the-radar names into focus for managers looking beyond the obvious stars. Trevor Lawrence, Dalvin Cook, Kyren Williams, Chris Olave and others are part of the broader picture, but the appeal here is really about opportunity and how injuries elsewhere can reshape a slate.
For Colts fans, the name worth noticing is Alec Pierce, who fits neatly into that kind of environment. The analysis around this weeks player pool points to favorable defensive vulnerabilities and the chance for expanded involvement, which is exactly the sort of setup that can turn a secondary option into a useful fantasy play. It is not a glamorous storyline, but in a week defined by absences and shifting target shares, Pierce has become the kind of receiver DFS players tend to circle when they are hunting for a little edge. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Downs Just Drew The Kind Of Interest Colts Fans Notice
Josh Downs surfaced in an interesting bit of roster-building chatter this week, with 49ers general manager John Lynch saying San Francisco originally zeroed in on the Colts receiver before turning its attention elsewhere. It was a reminder of how highly some teams view Downs, whose quickness and route-running have made him the kind of player front offices notice when they start hunting for a proven pass catcher.
Lynch said the 49ers looked at several options as they tried to add a receiver who could fit Kyle Shanahans system, including Garrett Wilson and Evan Engram, before landing on Keenan Allen. For Colts fans, the detail is less about a transaction that never happened and more about the company Downs was mentioned in, another sign that his value is being recognized beyond Indianapolis even as other teams continue to chase veteran help. [Read more 🡒]