While the Indianapolis Colts will be in search this offseason for a few upgrades at the wide receiver position, a huge storyline will be the recovery of Deon Cain.
After suffering a torn ACL during the first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Cain lost his rookie campaign but has been hard at work trying to get ready for the offseason workouts. While it is unlikely he will participate fully in OTAs and minicamp, he is on track to be ready for training camp.
“He has worked awful hard to come back from this injury. He hasn’t missed a day. He’s on track to be ready for training camp,” said general manager Chris Ballard at the NFL combine. “Now it’s just a matter of him going out and having to prove it again.”
The hype train was strong with Cain during training camp in 2018. He was crushing opposing defenses in practice and it appeared he was on his way to carving out a significant role in the offseason before the season-ending injury occurred.
Even with the hype train and the massive holes at wide receiver, the Colts need to see Cain prove he can handle a significant role before giving it to him outright. Ballard wants to see the Clemson product show that he deserves a big role in the offense.
“It’s almost like he is a rookie again. So for us to sit here and say, ‘No doubt this guy is going to be our two receiver.’ I can’t sit here and say that,” Ballard said. “Do I think he has true ability? Absolutely I do. But to say he is going to reach that – almost like a rookie season – I’m not there yet.”
The Colts have the resources to add to the wide receiver position in both free agency and the draft. With the most salary cap space in the NFL and nine picks in the draft, some depth is expected to be added.
Cain is an exciting player for the Colts, and he will have the chance to make his mark if and when he returns for training camp.
