The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2019 season with tempered expectations now with Andrew Luck retired, but there are still players that will be under the microscope throughout the campaign.
Whether it’s staying healthy, playing in a bigger role or developing into their potential, there are several Colts that face a pressure-filled campaign in 2019 on both sides of the ball.
Here are six Colts under the most pressure in 2019:
QB Jacoby Brissett
This is the most obvious one. The man who must replace Luck under center is Brissett. Whoever was going to hold that role was going to be facing the most pressure in 2019. Fortunately, Brissett has the mental wherewithal to handle this kind of situation. The Colts have placed their utmost confidence in Brissett—even signing him to a two-year deal that ensures his role as the starter through the 2020 season. There are a lot of players under pressure this season, but none face a bigger challenge than Brissett.
CB Quincy Wilson
In Chris Ballard’s first draft as general manager in 2017, the Colts spent a second-round pick on Wilson hoping he would quickly emerge as a starter in a cornerback room that lacked major depth at the time. That didn’t happen. Wilson wasn’t ready mentally for the NFL in rookie season and paid the price. He wound up carving out a role in the second half of his second season in 2018 and now holds a rotational role as the dime corner in the defense. His stock is trending upward, but Wilson faces a crucial third season in which he must show he’s turning into a starting-caliber cornerback.
C Ryan Kelly
When on the field, Kelly is one of the best centers in the game. His ability to lead the offensive line, make calls pre-snap, mow down defenders in the run game and keep stout protection of the interior makes him a borderline elite player at the position. If only he can consistently stay healthy. Kelly has missed 13 games in the last two seasons alone and while the Colts picked up his fifth-year option—which runs through 2020—he has to prove he can be available to anchor the Colts offensive line.
DE Kemoko Turay
After an injury-riddled rookie season, Turay flashed some major potential during the 2019 preseason. He’s showing immense development as a pass rusher both in adding new moves to his repertoire and also in utilizing a pass-rushing plan. With Jabaal Sheard out for an indefinite amount of time due to a knee injury, Turay has a chance to step up and show the Colts he is developing into the pass rusher they saw when they selected him in the second round in 2018. Turay is really only under pressure in that he must show development is taking place.
S Clayton Geathers
The Colts haven’t been shy about detailing their love for Geathers both in what he brings to the defensive side of the ball and also what he brings to the locker room and the community. Geathers re-signed with the Colts on a one-year deal, and he must now prove again that he can stay healthy. His talent and skillset are there. We’ve seen that. But Geathers has been dealing with injuries ever since he entered the league. He’s under a lot of pressure to prove he can stay healthy.
WR Devin Funchess
The Colts made their first signing of the offseason in the form of Funchess, who was a player that head coach Frank Reich was enamored with upon watching his film. Funchess is expected to play a big role in the offense as the WR2 opposite and while his outlook was much better with Luck under center, Funchess has an even bigger challenge in getting the chemistry right with Brissett. Fortunately, they have been working together all offseason. That certainly helps, but the pressure is still on for Funchess to prove that he can reach the potential that made him a second-round pick.
.png?w=600)
