Could Julian Blackmon be at risk of losing his safety spot with the Colts?
Julian Blackmon has been working his way back from an ankle injury but is it possible the Indianapolis Colts will replace him at safety?
In Week 3, starting free safety, Julian Blackmon went down with an ankle injury. The injury forced Blackmon to miss Weeks 4 and 5 before suiting up for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. However, Blackmon was just dressed for emergency purposes on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Frank Reich explained that Blackmon progressed enough to play if necessary but wasn’t healthy enough to start.
The reason the Colts didn’t necessarily feel the need to rush Blackmon back into the lineup is that Rodney Thomas II, Indy’s seventh-round rookie, has been excelling while filling in for Blackmon. Since Blackmon went down against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thomas has stepped in and made the most of the opportunity.
Drafted out of Yale, Rodney Thomas II has made several plays in the last four games where he’s essentially jumped off the screen and provided fans with plenty of excitement about his future. However, his promising play also has some wondering if Blackmon will get his starting spot back even once he is healthy.
For those wondering, Frank Reich says safety Julian Blackmon didn't quite make the physical progress late in the week to start Sunday. Was available if anyone went down, but team didn't feel he was 100%. Rodney Thomas playing well, per Reich, and team will work thru a decision.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 17, 2022
Has Rodney Thomas II done enough to remain in Colts’ lineup?
While Thomas has been special, it’s a bit unfair to Blackmon if he loses his spot without actually playing. Indianapolis probably feels the same way. Blackmon had a very promising start to his career but has dealt with some unfortunate injuries lately. However, he has looked good when on the field and should have an opportunity to continue to prove his ability once he is healthy.
That doesn’t mean that Thomas will just go back to the sideline though. The rookie has also proven that he deserves snaps and that creates a luxury for the Colts. Defensive back is a group where you can never have enough talented guys, especially in today’s passing league. Indy has depth at both safety spots and at corner, and that allows for the defense to rotate guys and utilize a lot of different packages.
Once the Colts feel that Blackmon is healthy and ready to contribute, he should be back in the starting lineup. If his production isn’t what it needs to be, then Indianapolis should replace him. However, that shouldn’t happen before he has the opportunity to play.
