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Colts Vick Ballard: ‘Ready to Go’ for Training Camp

By Luke Schultheis

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According to Indianapolis Colts running back Vick Ballard, he’ll be “ready to go” for training camp. Ballard is still rehabilitating from a season-ending achilles injury suffered last July and is expected to sit out this offseason’s OTA’s.

May 29, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Vick Ballard (33) stands on the sidelines during organized team activities at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The 4th year running back still met with reporters at the team’s OTA’s inside the locker room and said, “Just want to take my time with it, you know, so I’m having no setbacks.” When asked if he’d be ready by training camp, Ballard replied, “Definitely by training camp. Like I said, I could probably go right now, but there’s no real reason to.”

It bodes well for the Colts backfield. That is, if Ballard can get fully healthy again. While he’s only played in 1 game over the past two seasons because of consecutive season-ending injuries, he’s still only 24 years old and is just 2 years removed from an impressive rookie season in which he ran for 814 rushing yards.

If Ballard can get healthy, he’ll provide proven depth behind starter Frank Gore and could even push Dan “Boom” Herron for reps immediately behind him. It may also lessen the Colts need to draft a younger back to groom behind the soon-to-be 32-year old Gore as his long-term successor and focus on other areas of need. Of course, Ballard doesn’t feel like the team needs a young running back because they already have one in himself:

After suffering two consecutive season-ending injuries, the Colts cannot really afford to count on Ballard for significant reps next season. Anything that he gives the Colts backfield is more of an unexpected luxury. However, if he can stay healthy (*which is a big if), he’s definitely a darkhorse candidate to factor into the team’s running back equation.

Even with the injuries, the former 2012 5th round pick still has youth in his favor, as he’s only 24 years old and could provide additional proven depth behind Gore, especially if he runs the way he did in his rookie season.

In Other News:

Colts offensive tackle Ulrick John has been cleared for OTA’s. The former 2014 7th round pick out of Georgia State missed all of last season because of a season-ending right leg injury suffered in late August. The 6’5, 300 pound offensive tackle will compete for a roster spot as a backup offensive lineman.

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