Colts: Indy protects against Trey Burton absence with TE waiver claim

The Colts considered Trey Burton to be key to their offense, but now he’ll miss time. Perhaps this pickup will help?

About a month ago, Trey Burton was the new and impressive valve in the slot whose production would make the Colts offense go, according to offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni.

As we approach Week 1, though, the dream of Burton leading a seamless charge and making Jack Doyle’s contract irrelevant have dissolved. Burton will miss at least the season’s first few games with an injury, and Doyle and Mo-Alie Cox were the only other tight ends selected to the team’s initial 53-man roster.

Just one day later, though, the Colts did some maneuvering, using the Eagles’ roster shifts against them. Former Philly tight end Noah Togiai was one of very few players cut on Saturday who made their way to new rosters by Sunday afternoon, and Indianapolis clearly believes that the ex-Oregon State pass-catcher can at least hold down the fort for depth purposes before Burton’s arrival.

Togiai, a UDFA who signed with the Eagles following the 2020 draft, played five years at Oregon State, racking up an impressive senior season (44 receptions, 406 yards, and a trio of touchdowns).

His strength is in the pass-catching game, but his blocking leaves plenty to be desired; it’s even been described as “simply laughable” by Bleeding Green Nation’s Benjamin Solak. But that’s not why Togiai is being tested out. Burton was a major part of the team’s offensive game plan, and the kid may get tossed into the fire specifically to keep the Colts’ other pieces operating at full strength.

The roster casualty to make this happen? Swing tackle Chaz Green, widely viewed as a likely offseason cut prior to this necessary switch.

Colts fans shouldn’t count on Togiai to step in and be both familiar with Sirianni’s offense and impactful within its boundaries.

But with tight end starting out as a focal point this offseason, and swiftly becoming an area of need, this signing made complete sense.

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