Report: Colts ILB Nate Irving Has Shed 20 Pounds This Offseason
According to Colts.com’s Kevin Bowen, Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Nate Irving has shed 20 pounds this offseason with the difference being clearly noticeable on the field:
"“Physically, Irving looks like a totally different player this season,” writes Bowen. “He’s obviously healthy, but he’s also shed more than 20 pounds and you can tell watching him move laterally.”"
This seems like the first time we’ve heard of a lighter Irving this offseason.
Irving was listed at 253 pounds per last season’s media guide (and it’s his current listed weight per Colts.com), so his weight loss should put him closer to the 233 pound range.
It’s worth noting that Irving was listed at 231 pounds as a senior at NC State all the way back in 2010, so it’s at least a familiar playing weight for the 27 year old inside linebacker.
As such, it appears as though he’s in great shape physically.
Prior to joining the Colts, Irving was listed as 245 pounds with the Denver Broncos in 2014, so it’s not as though his weight ballooned because of inactivity, as he rehabilitated from a torn ACL last offseason.
Speaking of his ACL though, Irving’s weight loss should theoretically put less strain and wear-and-tear on his surgically repaired knee, which likely bodes well for his long-term football future.
Not to mention, as Bowen alluded to, it should make him lighter on his feet and provide him greater range when pursuing ball carriers and receivers.
It comes just a week after head coach Chuck Pagano said he was encouraged by the 6th-year veteran’s progress, as Irving finally looks healthy:
"“I think with those guys being in the program–another year, another offseason, healthy, I don’t think Nate (Irving) was ever 100% coming off the knee,” said Pagano last week at OTA’s. “Right now, he feels better than he ever felt from a physical standpoint, since the surgery.”"
After signing a 3-year, $9.25M contract an offseason ago, Irving appeared in 8 games (2 starts) during his Colts debut season, recording 14 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble before a season-ending wrist injury.
With last year’s starter Jerrell Freeman departing to the Chicago Bears in free agency, the Colts will be presumably relying on either Irving or Sio Moore to start alongside veteran D’Qwell Jackson in the middle of their defense:
"“It looks like it’s a group that’s developing into a pretty solid group,” said Pagano Tuesday at OTA’s. “Sio’s (Moore) doing a nice job. Him and Nate (Irving), both are healthy. Both are 100%. Both have done a nice job of picking up the scheme and terminology.”“D’Qwell’s (Jackson) missed some days here and there with a slight hammy. Those guys have gotten the lion’s share of reps. They’re taking advantage of it. I love where where they’re at. They have a long way to go. They’d be the first to tell you that, but the keys and reads, Jim Hermann’s (linebackers coach) doing a great job with that group.”“They’re seeing things. They can run. They’re athletic. They can matchup. They can cover. They can cover tight ends down the seams. They can cover ‘backs out of the backfield. We’ve got some pretty shifty guys back there now as far as the running back group goes, so they’re doing a good job.”"
Right now, the results have been primarily positive for Irving. Hopefully, being trimmer can help him on the field and most importantly, stay healthy.