ESPN’s latest look at projected starting lineups around the NFL included a small but telling note for the Indianapolis Colts: the player to know beyond the obvious starters is cornerback Justin Walley.
Aaron Schatz singled out Walley as the Colts’ key “nonstarter,” pointing to the traits that made him stand out in college.
"Walley is good at reading receivers and deflecting passes and was eighth in the FBS with 12 passes defensed in 2024," Schatz wrote.
Even with that label, the expectation is that Walley will open the season as the Colts’ nickel corner. That role looked like his to claim last year, too, before everything changed in a hurry. His rookie season was derailed by an ACL injury suffered during the Colts’ joint practice with Baltimore, cutting short a stretch in which he had already turned heads and seemed headed for a meaningful role.
Now back in offseason work, Walley appears to be right back on track. SI’s Albert Breer noted that he had a strong spring and got through OTAs and minicamp without any limitations.
"Second-year corner Justin Walley put together an outstanding spring, too," SI's Albert Breer wrote. "He lost his rookie year to a torn ACL, but was expected to start before he got hurt, and got through OTAs and minicamp without limitation. The staff sees him as a future Pro Bowler."
The Colts like the energy Walley brings on defense, along with the instincts that helped him produce so many plays on the ball in college.
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