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Colts snap counts prove unexpected No. 1 WR is emerging

By Jerry Trotta

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Marcus Johnson #83 of the Indianapolis Colts in action in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Marcus Johnson #83 of the Indianapolis Colts in action in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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The snap counts from Sunday’s loss to Baltimore prove that an unexpected player is emerging as the top wide receiver for the Colts.

At this point, it’s abundantly clear that the Indianapolis Colts’ offense is not where GM Chris Ballard or head coach Frank Reich want it to be, and Sunday’s humbling home defeat to Baltimore only accentuated that notion.

Philip Rivers wasn’t reckless with the football, but he misjudged a number of throws throughout the game and finished with just 227 passing yards despite dropping back to pass 43 times. While that’s no doubt a large-scale indictment on his declining accuracy, the Colts’ current current lack of dynamism at wide receiver hasn’t made life easier for him either.

It seems that Reich is of that mindset as well, because Indianapolis’ snap counts from Sunday indicate that an unexpected player is beginning to emerge as the consensus No. 1 option. Former undrafted talent Marcus Johnson ran routes on 41 of Rivers’ 43 dropbacks and was on the field for 88% of the offensive snaps, which was the most of any skill position player.

It’s worth noting that Johnson turned his uptick in playing time into just two receptions for 14 yards, but he was also tied for the team lead with seven targets and fell victim to some truly inaccurate passes from Rivers.

Over the last three games, Johnson has logged a 71% snap share and has compiled nine receptions (on 19 targets) for 161 yards during that span. Those numbers are obviously nothing to write home about, but they likely hold a ton of value in the eyes of Indianapolis’ coaching staff, which is clearly desperate for somebody to grab hold of the top spot on the WR depth chart.

When you consider that TY Hilton is in the midst of a lost year and Michael Pittman Jr., though fresh off the best game of his rookie season, is still getting back to full speed following foot surgery, the former Texas star might just be that guy. If you told us before the start of the season that this would be the case in Week 9, we would’ve called you crazy.

Despite appearing in just five games, Johnson is the Colts’ fourth-leading receiver this season and is only 56 yards off the pace for the outright lead in that category. Make no mistake about it, folks: the fourth-year pro’s increased snap share is anything but a fluke, and he will remain a prominent piece of the passing game moving forward.

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