The Indianapolis Colts always had high hopes for Justin Walley. The former third-round pick looked like a draft steal early on in his tenure with the team before a torn ACL in joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens cut his rookie season short before it even started.
Walley is back to full strength and has turned some heads in training camp, but he has yet to get his first official taste of NFL action. That will change on Saturday when he takes the field for his preseason debut vs. the Detroit Lions.
Not only will that be his first official football game in more than two years, but it will also make the Colts feel much better about their decision to part ways with veteran nickelback Kenny Moore II earlier this offseason.
Justin Walley can change everything for the Indianapolis Colts
Essentially, Walley is another rookie reinforcement for the Colts' defense. The Minnesota standout hasn't played in an official game since his final college game vs. Wisconsin, but he's drawn rave reviews in training camp as one of the flashiest players in the secondary.
He's made pick-sixes, broken up passes, and has even been a factor against the run. More importantly, he's there because he fits Lou Anarumo's system and vision, something that Moore couldn't say.
As good a player as Moore was, and as valuable as he could've been as a rotational piece, he didn't want to be in Indianapolis anymore. He knew he wasn't a good fit for the system, and the mere fact that he remains unsigned at this point in the offseason is a vindication of the Colts' approach with him.
As for Walley, he might be the missing piece to round out one of the most promising secondaries in the league. With Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner by his side, he'll be free to gamble a bit in the slot and play with the aggressiveness that made him such an intriguing pickup.
The Colts have given him extensive looks in the slot, but he's also excelled on the boundary. With Colts starters set to play roughly 12 plays on Saturday, they might even want to keep him out there for a bit longer, just to help him get his legs back under him in his first real taste of NFL action.
The secondary left plenty to be desired in coverage last season, but having these three all back to full strength and ready to roll should change the entire picture. There will be some growing pains, as he's still a youngster first and foremost, but the early returns suggest the Colts won't miss Moore in the slightest with his heir apparent ready to roll.
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