The Indianapolis Colts were blown out in Week 1 by the Baltimore Ravens, and slot corner was a real problem. On Monday, the team waived cornerback Jonathan Edwards, and moving on from him is important. That makes room for Cam Taylor-Britt.
To be clear, Edwards wasn't an issue against the Ravens. He didn't even play. He was inactive for the game. Still, he was taking up a roster spot that Taylor-Britt needed, and that was why Indy likely made the move to waive Edwards. With Taylor-Britt back on the roster after a one-game suspension for an offseason off-field issue, Justin Walley might feel the most impact (other than Edwards, of course).
Walley was torched by Ravens slot receiver Zay Flowers for 150 receiving yards in the first half. For a player in his first NFL game, it had to be an awful experience. Walley is in his second season, but he missed his rookie year with an ACL tear. He was basically a rookie in terms of real-game experience.
Indianapolis Colts could replace Justin Walley with Cam Taylor-Britt
Taylor-Britt, though, has experience playing in Lou Anarumo's defense, having done so with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2022 to 2024, when Anarumo was the defensive coordinator. In the preseason. Taylor-Britt played twice as many reps in the slot as he did outside.
If the team is thinking of moving Walley to a backup role, the easy answer to replace him is Taylor-Britt. Anarumo and head coach Shane Steichen cannot take too long to risk the defense due to Walley's ineffectiveness; the cornerback was so atrocious in Week 1 that he affected how the rest of the defense aligned.
At one point in the first half, Sauce Gardner had to roll over to cover Zay Flowers, as Walley was simply so bad at doing his job. Overall, Walley was targeted five times, allowed completions on every pass tossed his way, and gave up 93 yards. Had Flowers not aggravated his hamstring injury, he might have had 250 receiving yards being covered by Walley.
In the preseason, Taylor-Britt was targeted five times and allowed four completions, for a total of 13 yards. He also had six run stuffs. He should play in place of Justin Walley and help the defense in multiple ways at a level that Walley cannot.
Of course, the Indianapolis Colts could choose to have Cam Taylor-Britt active for Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs and still start Justin Walley. Doing so might be a fireable offense.
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