Johnathan Edwards has played just two snaps in the NFL. Both came on special teams in the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 2 game against the Denver Broncos. He was inactive in Indy’s Week 1 matchup.
Edwards dressed for the Broncos game because of an injury to the Colts’ top cornerback Charvarius Ward. If Ward clears concussion protocol in time for this week’s contest against Tennessee, there’s a good chance Edwards will be inactive once again.
Even without Ward, Xavien Howard and Mekhi Blackmon figure to start on the perimeter with Kenny Moore II handling the slot. Backup Chris Lammons will get the nod over Edwards for an active spot due to his special teams prowess. So the odds are against Edwards even putting on the pads in Nashville this week. But that has not stopped the rookie up to this point.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Johnathan Edwards is patiently waiting for his chance
Edwards is the only undrafted free agent to make the Colts’ final 53-man roster this year. He probably only made it because third-round pick Justin Walley went down with an injury in the preseason, and Jaylon Jones could not seem to stay healthy either. Jones is now on the injured list.
The Colts acquired both of Week 2's starters in late August as concerns about cornerback health and depth mounted. So far, the 26-year-old Blackmon has looked like a godsend. The 32-year-old Howard …. not so much.
Against Denver, Howard looked slow. He remains a tough, smart presence, but the four-time Pro Bowler was not effective filling in for Ward against Bo Nix and the Bronco receivers. He was called for multiple penalties on one Denver touchdown drive and had a hard time staying with speedy young wideouts like Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr.
Tennessee does not have the most dynamic passing attack in the league, but if Ward is not ready to go, rookie QB Cam Ward will most likely go after Howard as often as possible. If he doesn’t prove up to the task, Lou Anarumo may be forced to look elsewhere.
This is where Johnathan Edwards may get his chance. After three years with the D1 FCS Indiana State Sycamores, Edwards played last year with Tulane. He had a limited sample size against top-flight production, but his athleticism was undeniable.
Six-feet tall, with a wingspan that allows him to play even taller. 4.42 speed while carrying over 200 pounds, Edwards is a virtual physical prototype. At Tulane, he showed enough technique to one day become a shutdown corner.
All that led Chris Ballard to make Edwards a priority signing this summer. His performance in training camp led the club to cut 2023 second-round pick Julius Brents. The only question at this point is how quickly Anarumo is going to trust the rookie.
Even if Ward returns this week, the Xavien Howard experiment is looking iffy. Howard didn’t play last year, so the question that needs to be answered is whether he is simply rusty or whether he is too far past his prime to be a reliable perimeter corner. That will become obvious in the weeks ahead. If Ward remains out this Sunday, we’ll get an answer even sooner.
If Ward is healthy and Howard continues to struggle, Johnathan Edwards may take on a bigger role as a primary depth piece. If Ward misses more time, Edwards may find himself thrust into the starting lineup as soon as this weekend.