The Indianapolis Colts are expected to sign veteran fullback Roosevelt Nix, adding some beef to the backfield and some help on special teams.
What role Nix will have in the offense isn’t totally clear at this point, but the Colts have used an H-back role under Frank Reich during the 2018 season. It’s just a one-year deal for Nix, who enters his sixth season in the NFL.
Here are four things to know about Nix:
Five seasons with Steelers
After going undrafted in 2014, Nix signed with the Atlanta Falcons and spent the offseason working with the team. He was cut before the season and wound up playing with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.
However, he would sign a one-year deal with the Steelers during the 2015 offseason and has been there ever since. Over the last five seasons, Nix has playing in 60 games holding a limited role in the offense as a blocker.
A captain with the Steelers in 2019, he only appeared in three games and was released on March 18.
Pro Bowler in 2017
Though fullbacks don’t get a whole lot of credit for the dirty work they do, Nix was honored with a Pro Bowl selection during the 2017 season. Despite only getting three carries and two receptions, Nix scored two touchdowns as an added bonus to his blocking work. His work, along with the Steelers offensive line, is a big reason why Le’Veon Bell had a career-year that ended with an All-Pro nod.
H-back role?
How the Colts plan to use Nix is unknown at this point. He’s a fullback who primarily spends his snaps blocking. He only has 12 career receptions and four career carries to his name. He’s not going to be on the stat sheet all that much.
While the Colts didn’t have a need for a fullback or an H-back during the 2019 season, they did feature one during the 2018 season when they made the playoffs. That role belonged to Ryan Hewitt, who spent almost all of his snaps blocking.
It seems he could be heading toward that role while also seeing work on special teams, which he has done plenty during his time with the Steelers.
Core special teamer
While the Colts aren’t going to make Nix a staple of the offense, he will see plenty of work on the special teams side of the ball. Throughout his career with the Steelers, Nix has been a key part of the special teams unit.
Since 2015, these are his snap percentages on special teams:
- 2015: 55%
- 2016: 38% (10 games)
- 2017: 69%
- 2018 (69%)
- 2019: 10% (3 games)
Even if Nix doesn’t hold a massive part of the offense, he is likely to play a big role on special teams.
