Once again, the Indianapolis Colts' linebacker corps has been a talking point for the wrong reasons. They've been up and down this year, and an injury forced Lou Anarumo's hand to roll with a rookie in Week 5.
Oregon product Bryce Boettcher had played some snaps here and there before this game, but with Jaylon Carlies out with an injury, the Colts had no choice but to give him a chance against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It took just one play for him to prove that wasn't the right decision, as a terrible pursuit angle left the door wide open for Jaylen Warren, who broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown. It went all downhill from there.
Bryce Boettcher has shown promise, but the Indianapolis Colts must be patient
Boettcher was one of the talks of the hour in Colts' training camp. His high motor, energy, and work ethic stood out from day one, and it looked like he would be ready for a big role almost right out of the gate.
While he hadn't been particularly bad before Week 5, his performance against the Steelers will likely have everyone pumping the brakes on him. That single play wasn't the only reason why this team lost on Sunday, but it had them playing catch-up from start to finish.
All rookies go through growing pains, and Boettcher entered the league with some question marks. He was supposed to be a baseball star before he pursued a career in football, so he's technically still learning the ropes of the game.
Game tape from Week 5 will certainly give him plenty of learning opportunities, and he'll definitely have to work extensively on his tackling angles. And while this doesn't mean he shouldn't play again this season, perhaps Anarumo will have to spoon-feed him and limit him to certain situations.
Through five games, he's given up five catches in as many targets for 120 yards, two touchdowns, and an opposing passer rating of 158.3. He's also missed 20 percent of his tackles, including two in Week 5.
This has been a frustrating year for Colts' rookie linebackers. C.J. Allen, expected to be the team's MIKE for years to come, has barely played despite being the team's highest draft selection, and the fact that Akeem Davis-Gaither has played just okay.
Then again, Anarumo might not be in much of a position to try his fortune here. His defense has been underwhelming for the most part, and playing Allen and Boettcher to give them the reps they need might take a toll on his job security.
Given Chris Ballard's track record in the NFL Draft, it's easy to understand why some fans might be skeptical about Boettcher and Allen. But just because they're not ready today doesn't mean they'll never be.
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