Well, it's the dawn of a new era for the Indianapolis Colts. Someone else will call the shots after Chris Ballard's departure, and some of the team's best players will now be playing for different organizations.
While that's always sad and usually the start of a long, grieving rebuilding process, it also opens the door for other guys to step up. The youngsters get more opportunities, and who knows? Some might even turn out to be great.
The Colts have some big decisions to make in the next couple of weeks and months, but they also have to prepare for the Jacksonville Jaguars. This time, they might do that with some unsung heroes leading the way.
4 Colts players who will surprisingly step up in Week 8
Jalen Farmer
Quenton Nelson is no longer in the building, and those are some big shoes to fill. The Colts were extremely high on Jalen Farmer since day one, and while he looked like a developmental guy at first, he will now be asked to do plenty of heavy lifting.
Farmer is an athletic freak and a true mauler at the line of scrimmage. He will make mistakes, and he's a work in progress, but if fans can look past the fact that he's not Quenton Nelson, this might be the beginning of a great story.
Adetomiwa Adebawore
Adetomiwa Adebawore has earned the right to be a starter; it just sucks that it will happen because DeForest Buckner is no longer in the building. Whatever the case, he's been balling this season, and that won't change any time soon.
Adebawore has made big strides as a pass rusher this season. The Jaguars' offensive line is shaky at best, so he might be in for a field day against Trevor Lawrence and company. He's the team's most overlooked player right now.
Laquon Treadwell
Daniel Jones hasn't been good at all this season, so it's hard to trust anyone in the passing game right now. That said, Laquon Treadwell is a bona fide player, a proven veteran who can at least give him reliable hands.
While he's not much of a burner and won't give this team the vertical threat they need, Treadwell can make an impact when given a chance. He should get plenty of opportunities going forward, more by necessity than by design.
Seth McGowan
Seth McGowan has slowly but steadily shown his progress this season, and he might as well be the team's future at running back. He's not explosive or shifty like Jonathan Taylor, but he's a wrecking ball between the tackles.
The Jaguars are giving up the fewest rushing yards per game this season (72.2), so McGowan and the Colts will have to fight twice as hard for every inch on the ground. He's the type of physical back who can actually look better in those settings, though.
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