What the Indianapolis Colts are seeing as far as players participating in the upcoming training camp might not be what the finished product looks like. That doesn't just mean players who are released when final roster cuts are made. General manager Chris Ballard might still sign a player or two.
One of those could be safety Jordan Whitehead, a former starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. Whitehead hasn't played since 2024, partly due to neck surgery. He has been cleared to play, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo.
The assumption is that Whitehead wouldn't be expensive to sign, though reportedly many teams are kicking the tires on doing so. The safety visited with Indianapolis recently, but he also has visits set with AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans, as well as other teams.
Indianapolis Colts have a visit with free agent safety Jordan Whitehead
At his best, Whitehead is solid in coverage and a good tackler for a defensive back. In only one of his seven seasons has he allowed more than three touchdowns, and in two of his three most recent seasons, he has whiffed on 8.2 percent of his tackles or less. He became a full-time starter in 2019 and has remained so every season he has played since.
Plus, at 29 years old, and assuming his neck is no longer a concern, he could play for several more years.
The question is where he would play for the Indianapolis Colts. He wouldn't seem to have a path to start. Cam Bynum will be one safety, and rookie A.J. Haulcy is likely trending toward being a first-year starter.
Maybe defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is thinking of playing three safety sets more, as the NFL tends to be a copycat league, and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has three safeties on the field quite often to help disguise alignments and positional flexibility. Maybe that is how Chris Ballard is trying to sell the team to Whitehead.
Otherwise, he could sign with a team where he thinks he will see the field more. That might not be with the Texans, either. The starters seem set in Houston, too. If the money is basically even as far as what is being offered, Whitehead could simply go to a team where he thinks he might be most valuable.
That would be assuming he signs a short deal. If Jordan Whitehead inks a one-year contract somewhere, he will want the opportunity to play so that the next deal he signs is for more money. If he lands with the Colts, Whitehead could be battling Hunter Wohler for backup reps.
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