Colts planning to activate key secondary piece for Week 13

Remember earlier in the year when it felt like the Indianapolis Colts met their injury quota for the season before the end of October?

From Carson Wentz, to Quenton Nelson, to Darius Leonard, Kenny Moore, Braden Smith, TY Hilton and Kwity Paye, it felt like every high-profile player on the roster missed time during training camp and the early stages of the regular season.

However, if that was the price to pay for their slow start to the year, it may (emphasis on may) have been worth it. After all, the Colts have quietly been one of the league’s healthiest teams over the last few weeks.

That will remain the case heading into Sunday’s road tilt in Houston, as Indy didn’t rule out a single player for the game.

Not only that, but it looks as though Khari Willis will be activated off injured reserve after getting in a full week of practice.

The Colts are planning to activate Khari Willis off injured reserve.

Let’s go!

We know Willis has his limitations in coverage, but this secondary hasn’t looked the same since he went down in Week 9.

With Julian Blackmon out for the year with a torn Achilles, the Colts have played without their starting safeties for the better part of a month, so having Willis back in the lineup will help make everyone else more comfortable.

The Colts have passed the time with veterans like Andrew Sendejo, who owns a heinous 43.4 tackling grade for the season from Pro Football Focus. The 34-year-old’s limitations in that department were on full display on Leonard Fournette’s game-winning TD run last week.

Unfortunately, it’s worth another look.

Yeah, we can’t be having that.

The physical edge Willis plays with will at least make opponents think twice about coming over the middle of the field — or, in this case, make bigger running backs like Fournette think twice about bouncing a run outside.

As far as the secondary is concerned, Willis’ return comes at a perfect time. While the Texans don’t pose a huge threat through the air, Brandin Cooks is still as dynamic as they come at the wide receiver position.

Beyond Cooks, the Colts will be tasked with slowing down the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Zach Ertz, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow over the five games left on the schedule.

See what we’re saying?

While it won’t be all on Willis’ shoulders to limit those playmakers, his return will help inject some continuity into a secondary that’s been a revolving door in terms of starting unfamiliar faces due to injury this season.

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