Colts: Frank Reich opens up on ‘painful’ Marlon Mack conversations

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich details the conversations with Marlon Mack about playing time.

It’s been clear that Marlon Mack’s time with the Indianapolis Colts has been coming to an end for a while now, but the situation gets more painful as it drags along. The 25-year-old running back has spent the last two games on the sideline in regular clothes, and not because of injury.

Mack has been inactive for the last two games, as he is the third running back on the depth chart and offers little on special teams. Mack likely saw all of this coming, which is why he requested a trade earlier this season.

Unfortunately, the trade deadline passed and Mack is still a member of the Colts, so everyone must remain in this awkward situation until Mack’s contract expires at the end of the season. It is possible he could just be released, but the parties don’t seem to be moving in that direction.

Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich explained to the media that this hasn’t been an easy process, detailing he and Mack’s conversations as “painful.”

Colts Frank Reich has painful talks with Marlon Mack

Reich was correct in saying that Mack is behind the hottest back in the NFL, but even with the emergence of Jonathan Taylor, it’ll be hard to tell Colts’ fans a couple of seasons ago that Mack would be phased out of the offense.

This is a running back who has played his entire career with Indianapolis and got off to a very hot start. After taking over starting duties in his second year, Mack rushed for 908 yards in 2018 and 1,091 in 2019. So when Taylor was drafted, many assumed that the Colts were creating one of the best backfield duos in the NFL.

However, when Mack tore his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2020 season, the franchise moved forward and the foundation of the inevitable split was set.

For now, both Mack and Indianapolis will try to keep things professional as the team fights for a playoff spot.