Although the Indianapolis Colts had a slow start to the season, there are still things that have to make fans hopeful for the coming weeks.
Through the first five games, the Indianapolis Colts are sitting at 2-2-1 following the 12-9 win against the Denver Broncos. There have been some ups and downs to start the season for sure. There are things that we Colts fans and supporters can be hopeful for despite the sluggish start. I am going to talk about three things that Indy’s fans should still be excited about, despite the poor play through the first five games.
1. Good play from young guys
Coming into the season, it was apparent that the Colts would need to see production out of their young guys, including rookies. The young guys have thrived so far this season and have looked like they belong in this league. Indianapolis had a good draft and most of the guys that they selected are on the roster and making an impact.
The first guy that has made the most of his opportunities is receiver Alec Pierce. Pierce has come back strong after sustaining a concussion in Week 1. In the three games that he has played in full, he has put up good numbers and has been one of the more reliable targets for quarterback Matt Ryan. Pierce has 15 catches for 222 yards. That is after his monstrous eight-catch, 81-yard day against the Broncos. Pierce is drawing attention from many people across the league and is solidifying himself as one of the better offensive rookies in the 2022 class.
The other guy that has been a solid contributor to the Colts is rookie safety Rodney Thomas II. Thomas got to see his first snaps early as starting safety Julian Blackman went down with an injury. The seventh-rounder has stepped in and looked right at home. Gus Bradley is known for running a single high safety and Indy has put Thomas in this spot and he has excelled. You rarely see a rookie, let alone a seventh-rounder, come in and produce as Rodney has. In the three games that he has played in, Thomas has 10 tackles, two deflections, and an interception. I love the way that Thomas is not afraid to come up and make a tackle. He also has great ball skills and is always looking to make a play.
These two are just a couple of the young guys that are helping this Colts team thus far. If they can continue to play at the level they are for the majority of the season, Indianapolis should be fun to watch in the coming games and in the future.