Colts: Here’s what fans can expect from DeMichael Harris after he was added to roster

The Colts signed wide receiver DeMichael Harris to the active roster, and here’s what fans can expect from him.

At this point in the season, it’s no secret that the Indianapolis Colts’ offense will ultimately prove to be their downfall. With the first half of the schedule complete, the group ranks 19th in the NFL with 360.5 total yards per game and 15th with 26.0 points scored per game.

Could those numbers be worse? Without a doubt, but the Colts have no place being considered true contenders ranking in the bottom half of the league in those two all-important categories. With that in mind, it would behoove Indianapolis’ coaching staff to get the ball in the hands of their most dynamic playmakers.

Clearly aware of this, they signed wide receiver DeMichael Harris from the practice squad to the active roster. Assuming his promotion is a permanent one, here’s what fans can expect from the 22-year-old speedster in Week 10 against Tennessee and beyond.

Harris has showed flashes in his two appearances off the bench for the Colts this season, turning nine touches (seven receptions and two rushes) into 84 yards, 55 of which came against Baltimore last weekend. In that game, his number was called on two reverse plays that resulted in positive yardage.

The undrafted rookie is a receiver by trade, but was often deployed as a running back at Southern Mississippi simply because of how electric he is in the open field. Over his final two seasons with the Golden Eagles, he actually racked up more rushing yards (621) than receiving yards (587) and did so in an efficient manner, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.

Indianapolis should take full advantage of Harris’ unique skillset and continue to utilize him on designed reverses while sprinkling him in on screens and short-yardage situations on third down, when he’ll no doubt be faster than his defender and should be able to establish separation on his route. The sheer mismatch the 5-foot-9 WR epitomizes when lined up in the slot was on full display on this specific play vs the Ravens, when he burned his defender for a solid gain.

Again, we’re not expecting Harris to become a primary focus of the offense, but Reich and Co. desperately need to get the ball in his hands in space as much as possible. He can make things happen out of nothing after the catch and is a nightmare to bring down in the open field.

Nobody’s crowning him as the savior of Indianapolis’ stagnant offense, but considering how bleak things often looked this past Sunday, there’s no reason not to get creative.

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