The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) enjoyed a strong, well-rounded win against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, which featured dominating play on both sides of the ball.
As the most important stretch of the season gets underway for Indy, they kicked it off with a win that shows who they truly are. They paved the way with the run en route to 264 rushing yards while the defensive line was in the backfield all day long.
Here are four Colts whose stock rose in the win:
RB Jonathan Williams
With Jordan Wilkins inactive due to an ankle injury, Williams was already in line to see a small increase in snaps. He worked mostly as a change of pace back until Marlon Mack suffered a fractured hand. Williams then took over and showed just what kind of skill set he has.
Not only did Williams have a massive 31-yard reception on a third-and-long in the third quarter, but he also took 13 carries for 116 yards in relief of Mack. It was a strong showing of both power and speed for the 25-year-old.
With Mack expected to be out Thursday night, Williams can continue carving out a role in the backfield.
WR Marcus Johnson
It is no secret the Colts are extremely thin in the wide receiver room. With injuries befalling T.Y. Hilton, Devin Funchess and Parris Campbell, the Colts have had to turn to their depth in hopes of salvaging any type of production.
Johnson was called up from the practice squad before Week 10, and he hasn’t disappointed. The third-year wide receiver paced the offense with four catches on four targets for 38 yards and a touchdown. He also played on 93% of snaps.
It isn’t clear if the Colts will see the return of any of their injured wide receivers, but Johnson will be there to step in if need be.
CB Rock Ya-Sin
Enjoying one of his best games this season, Ya-Sin, unfortunately, suffered an ankle injury that left him in a walking boot following the game. However, the rookie had made a strong impact before exiting in the fourth quarter.
The second-round pick recorded his first career interception when Nick Foles blindly threw a deep ball to D.J. Chark. Ya-Sin tracked it perfectly and fought hard to come down with a juggling interception.
It isn’t clear if he will be ready to go Thursday night, but he made a strong impression against the Jaguars.
K Adam Vinatieri
Maybe he figured something out. Maybe it is just another part of this roller-coaster season for the 46-year-old. Regardless, Vinatieri gave a vintage performance on Sunday against the Jaguars.
The oldest active player in the NFL made all five of his kicks—four of which were extra points. That might seem like a small task, but converting extra-point attempts has been a major crux for Vinatieri this season.
If the Colts are going to continue playing in close games, they need Vinatieri to have vintage performances like this one with consistency.
