Justin Walley is about to get his first real NFL action in more than two years, and the Colts are hoping it says plenty about where their secondary is headed.
Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions will mark Walley’s debut after a torn ACL in joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens wiped out what was supposed to be his rookie season before it even began. The former third-round pick entered Indianapolis with real buzz, looked the part early, and now he’s finally back at full strength after a long wait.
Training camp has only added to the optimism. Walley has stood out as one of the flashier defenders in the secondary, flashing the kind of playmaking that made him such an intriguing addition in the first place.
He has found the end zone on pick-sixes, broken up passes, and even shown up against the run. The bigger point is that he appears to fit Lou Anarumo’s system and vision, which matters in a way that veteran nickelback Kenny Moore II never quite did.
That split is part of why Walley’s rise carries so much weight. Moore was still a good player and could have helped as a rotational piece, but he wanted out of Indianapolis, and the Colts clearly moved on because he wasn’t the right fit for what they wanted to do. The fact that he remains unsigned this late in the offseason only makes that call look better for the Colts.
Walley gives them a different kind of answer. The Minnesota standout has been worked heavily in the slot, but he has also looked good on the boundary.
That versatility gives Indianapolis options, especially with Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner alongside him. It also gives Walley room to play with the kind of aggression that made him stand out in the first place.
There will still be some rust to knock off. He’s young, and this is his first official football game since his final college outing against Wisconsin. But the Colts are planning to play their starters about 12 snaps on Saturday, and Walley may get a little extra runway as he works back into game shape.
Last season’s coverage issues were obvious. If Walley keeps trending the way he has in camp, Indianapolis may have found a piece that changes the whole look of the secondary - and one that makes the decision to move on from Moore feel even more justified.
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