After finally being put in the starting lineup, Isaiah Rodgers is showing that he should’ve been starting all year for the Indianapolis Colts.
Entering this season, Isaiah Rodgers was expected to have a breakout season for the Indianapolis Colts but a wrench was thrown in those plans when Indy signed veteran corner Brandon Facyson. Many assumed that Rodgers would beat out Facyson in a training camp battle and win the starting position but that didn’t happen and Facyson started the season as the cornerback opposite Stephon Gilmore. Considering Rodgers’ popularity amongst Indy’s fans, Facyson had a lot of eyes on him to see if he was actually better than Rodgers.
It quickly became evident that he was not. Rodgers was clearly the better cornerback, regardless of how much more experience Facyson had in Gus Bradley’s system. Facyson was making several mistakes a game and Rodgers would play great in his limited snaps. This led to fans going on a movement asking the Colts to start Rodgers over Facyson and for him to play more snaps. Eventually, Gus Bradley got on board.
Since Week 7, Rodgers has officially been starting on defense and he has also had significantly more snaps than Brandon Facyson. What has the result been? Well, Rodgers has been playing lights out and making it clear that he should’ve been the starter since the beginning of the season.
Hands down best all around receiver i played . Much respect to him and his game, but this is just one play. We talked all game in a respectful way, he got his money too. We just grinding. He Is HIM https://t.co/6TQbX7Frdc
— Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (@rodgers_isaiah) November 15, 2022
Isaiah Rodgers is balling out for the Colts
Indianapolis’ defense has been pretty good across the board. Stephon Gilmore has been reminding everyone who he is, and younger guys like Zaire Franklin, Bobby Okereke, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye are also having quality seasons. Isaiah Rodgers, in his third season, has been a part of this career-year movement.
Through the 10 games this season, Rodgers has been targeted just nine times. On those targets, he’s allowed six receptions but they have been for just 34 yards. His coverage skills have been so great that he’s not even being targeted that much. Rodgers is known to have great ball skills, and if he was targeted more, he’d likely have some interceptions.
The moment that really captured how this season has been going for Rodgers was on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders when Isaiah was lined up one-on-one with Davante Adams for a pivotal third down. Rodgers played phenomenal coverage against Adams and came up with a huge stop. Plays like that show that Rodgers has officially arrived in this league.
From coverage to tackling to the play-making ability that Isaiah Rodgers has once the ball is in his hands, he has shown that he’s a starting cornerback in the NFL and that shouldn’t change anytime soon as long he’s with the Colts.
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