Let's go back in time, Indianapolis Colts fan, to free agency and the draft. That was a time when Indy traded Michael Pittman Jr. because general manager Chris Ballard had backed himself into a financial corner and could no longer afford the possession receiver. Indianapolis has been trying to fix that problem since, and that now includes Quez Watkins.
The team signed the veteran wideout to the practice squad, which might mean nothing except that Indy has an obvious need at wide receiver, and trading for one, like Marvin Harrison Jr., or signing a free agent, like Tyreek Hill (for better or worse), would have been something.
Watkins, mind you, hasn't played a down of real football since 2023, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. He did have 43 catches in 2021 with Philly, and over four seasons he caught six touchdown passes. He isn't going to help the Colts, though.
Indianapolis Colts signing Quez Watkins likely means nothing
Since leaving the Eagles in 2023, he has been on the practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Arizona Cardinals, and then back with Philly. He clearly wasn't a standout in practice because he wasn't elevated to play in real games.
But Ballard's choices since trading Pittman to the Steelers have been iffy. The team re-signed Pierce to a four-year deal worth $114 million on the same day (March 9), knowing that Pierce would need ankle surgery that would set him back for 4-6 months.
The team also signed veteran Keenan Allen during the preseason, and he was first arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and was later injured and couldn't play in Week 4. His status for Week 5 remains unknown.
Ballard also signed free agent Darius Slayton, who played through training camp and the preseason with the New York Giants, where he was once a teammate of quarterback Daniel Jones. Slayton would appear to be in football shape but hasn't been active for a game yet. What's going on? Indy isn't saying.
Quez Watkins is the latest in a line of band-aid-type players that the Indianapolis Colts are trying to use to cover the open wound left by being forced to trade Michael Pittman. Pittman had a cap hit of $29 million, far too high for a player of his production and one who never needed to have a contract with that high a cap hit. Blame Ballard.
The team had to either release him or trade him to save money. That happened, and what is left is Keenan Allen, Darius Slayton, and Quez Watkins (at least Watkins is on the practice squad). Hooray?
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