Colts: 3 unexpected players who could be on training camp bubble
By Jerry Trotta
1. Jordan Wilkins
The Colts’ rushing attack finished 11th in the league in yards per game last season, which is impressive given how sluggish it looked over the first several weeks.
Even better? The group should make more strides in 2021, as Jonathan Taylor looks poised to piggyback off his stellar rookie season in which he finished third in the league with 1,169 yards.
Nyheim Hines, meanwhile, is fresh off setting career highs in every major category and will be playing for a new contract, which, if we’re being honest, he’s probably already earned.
Jordan Wilkins seems to be the odd man out in the Colts’ backfield.
Then, of course, you get to Marlon Mack, who re-signed with Indy on a cheap one-year deal following Achilles surgery. It remains to be seen how the former third-round pick will look post-injury, but he’ll likely be in contention for third-down duties or a change-of-pace role.
That, unfortunately, leaves Jordan Wilkins as the odd man out. There’s been speculation that Indianapolis could even trade him before the start of the season, but that wouldn’t happen until after training camp in case one of Taylor, Hines or Mack suffers an injury.
If that group gets through camp unscathed, Wilkins could find himself on the bubble. Not to mention, the Colts seem to be high on undrafted free agent Deon Jackson, to whom they gave an expensive $45,000 signing bonus as a priority free agent two months ago.
In other words, Wilkins could become an afterthought in the Colts’ backfield.
