The Indianapolis Colts offense has been greatly limited because of a lack of explosiveness at wide receiver. At least the team had some decent possession receivers, but after the trade deadline, even that isn't true.
Indy dealt Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers and Josh Downs to the Kansas City Chiefs, and those were easily the most productive wideouts Indy had this season. Alec Pierce is still out after aggravating his heel injury, and there is no real reason to bring him back now. The team isn't going to the playoffs.
But who does Daniel Jones, who wasn't traded at the deadline, have to throw to? His top option might be Laquon Treadwell. Seriously. Of course, that isn't completely true. Jones might simply throw the ball to tight end Tyler Warren about 20 times a game for the rest of the season.
Indianapolis Colts are left with dreadful wide receiver group after the trade deadline
That is only a half-joke. That might be the wiser move than forcing the ball to any of the remaining wide receivers.
Looking at the list below, though, there is some potential for explosiveness if head coach Shane Steichen can figure out a way to use them. Ashton Dulin proved he can take a screen to the house in Week 9. Why that play hadn't been used before the game against the Dallas Cowboys is unknown.
- Laquon Treadwell
- Ashton Dulin
- Anthony Gould
- Deion Burks
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Alec Pierce (IR)
- Mecole Hardman (practice squad)
- Quez Watkins (practice squad)
Normally, we would add a WR1 or WR2 to the above, but that is just not clear with the Colts at this point. Treadwell will seemingly start based on his experience. Dulin should start too, based on his Week 9 performance.
With nothing much to gain, the rest of the season at the team sits at 2-7, though it could be 3-7 after Week 10, when the Indianapolis Colts play the even worse Miami Dolphins. Rookie Deion Burks should get a lot more reps. The team could test how well he might work out long-term.
What is obvious is the team either loves Daniel Jones or hates him. No quarterback should be expected to succeed with the current Pierce-less lineup of wide receivers Indianapolis is going to trot out. This could be the worst group in the NFL, and the second-worst group might not be all that close.
The Colts might win two more games the rest of the season, but at least more organizational changes are likely to happen soon. The 2027 NFL Draft could see Indy take a lot of wide receivers. Otherwise, 2027 is not going to be any better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google