The Indianapolis Colts used a second-round pick on wide receiver Parris Campbell three seasons ago, as Chris Ballard and Frank Reich both seemed to believe he would come right in and make an impact for Indianapolis on the offensive end due to his game-breaking speed and route-running skills.
Unfortunately, the Ohio State burner has found it almost impossible to stay on the field for Indianapolis, as a list of injury problems has limited him to just a handful of games and 34 career catches in his young career. After so much runway wasted, Campbell finally looked like he was about to turn the corner in a win against the Houston Texans on Sunday, though.
Of course he did.
Campbell was on the receiving end of a 51-yard score that put Indianapolis up early, but things quickly came off the rails, as he suffered yet another foot injury that knocked him out of the game just 10 plays in. Reich and the Colts appear ready to make a move that could lead to the end of the Campbell era in Indianapolis.
Campbell will likely be placed on injured reserve with his foot ailment, and there is a chance that this injury sidelines him for the rest of the season. If he is out for the season, it will be hard to envision a scenario in which he’s retained for 2021 and beyond.
Could be season-ending for Campbell, but Colts haven't decided on that just yet. Expect the team to place him on IR soon. https://t.co/M0U5PqjDWh
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 18, 2021
Will Parris Campbell play for the Colts again?
Campbell has recorded just 360 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his pro career. Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about his injuries is how well he’d fit into this offense, as his speed could help mitigate TY Hilton starting to slow down and losing a step in his old age.
Even if he comes back, he will likely be behind Hilton, Zach Pascal, and Michael Pittman Jr. on the depth chart. Even the likes of Ashton Dulin, Dezmon Patmon, and Mike Strachan might have a better shot at contributing than Campbell at this moment in time.
https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/1449790692239290368
At this point, Campbell is a professional hospital patient plagued by a career as a football player. With just 14 games under his belt in his third professional season, it will be almost impossible for Reich, Ballard, and this team to rely on him, even with the potential of what he could be as a deep threat.
Campbell needs to go somewhere else and hope that his lower body holds up, because the Colts can’t just keep banging their head against a wall and expecting things to turn around. In the end, picking Campbell over the likes of Terry McLaurin, Diontae Johnson, and DK Metcalf will go down as one of Ballard’s biggest draft blunders.
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