INDIANAPOLIS – The news on the first day of veteran’s minicamp was the type that elicits a quiet obscenity, especially with the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason work in that ramping up/winding down mode.
Second-year safety Daniel Scott would miss the season after tearing an Achilles tendon last week. The team’s 2023 fifth-round draft pick had apparently made a full recovery after missing his rookie season with a torn ACL.
“Tough break,’’ coach Shane Steichen said Tuesday. “He was doing a helluva job out here in OTAs and then to have that happen to him again . . .I mean, it’s a tough break.’’
Whether it’s a young player or veteran, a quarterback, running back linebacker, wideout or any other position of choice, there’s a ripple effect.
Scott had yet to step on the field, even in preseason. His two significant injuries occurred roughly one year apart. In early June, when practices have advanced to 11-on-11 in nature, but contact is not allowed.
Despite Scott’s inactivity, he always seemed to be in the Colts’ safety picture.
“We were really excited about Scott,’’ general manager Chris Ballard offered during his post-2023 meeting with the media. “He tears his ACL during OTAs . . . he did not miss one day of practice. I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a kid that just every day (is) in the same spot paying attention, dialing in mentally every single day from training camp to the end of the year. So, getting him back will be good for our back end. He’s smart. He’s athletic. We really liked what we saw the limited time that we had him.’’
Now, Scott is gone, betrayed by his body for the second time in 12 months.
That deletes an unproven but promising player from a position group that already was the Colts’ most concerning area heading into 2024.
Strong safety Julian Blackmon is the unquestioned leader of the room. The 2020 third-round draft pick was considered one of the Colts’ most important pending free agents to re-sign this offseason, and that happened.
After not drawing the level of interest he expected on the open market, Blackmon returned to Indy for a fifth year with a one-year contract that carries a modest $3.89 million hit against the salary cap.
“My heart was always like, ‘OK, this has been a great process, but at the same time, I want to continue to build something that I’ve helped start,” said Blackmon.
During OTAs and Tuesday’s minicamp work, Blackmon has taken the bulk of the repetitions at strong safety. In four seasons, he’s started 46 of 50 games and collected seven interceptions, 17 passes defended and 12 tackles for loss.
Blackmon is coming off the best year of his career despite missing the last two games with a shoulder injury: a team-high four interceptions to go along with 88 tackles, one forced fumble and five tackles for loss.
The question has been and continues to be: who steps up and plays alongside Blackmon?
The primary candidates are members of the 2022 draft class: third-rounder Nick Cross and seventh-rounder Rodney Thomas II.
To this point, Cross has been getting the bulk of the work at free safety with the starting unit.
And heading into each’s third season, neither has secured anything.
Cross started the final two games last season after Thomas’ effectiveness waned. Thomas started the first 15 but was on the field for just three defensive snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans.
Thomas insisted he still considers himself starter quality.
“Oh yeah, definitely,’’ he said. “Wherever I’m asked to play, then that’s my job. That’s where I will try to be the best at and try to be the starter at or things like that.’’
Thomas and Cross have developed a friendly but competitive relationship.
“It’s crazy,’’ Thomas said. “But yeah, every day just me and Nick just battling back and forth, just talking about different things that we see. I had mentioned before, like we’re only as strong as our weakest link. So if everybody is side-by-side pushing each other to be the best that they can be, it’s going to bring the best out of all of us and in turn translate over into Sundays.’’
Cross remains one of the youngest players on the team – he turns 23 in September – despite heading into his third season. The Colts realized he might take longer to develop when they made a move in the ’22 draft to secure him.
Now is the time Cross – or Thomas – must emerge.
“I feel good,’’ Cross said of working at free safety. “I played it all through college, did pretty well at it. Played it pretty well last year at the end of the season.’’
The objective of free safety?
“Being a guy the quarterback has to look our for,’’ Cross said. “Be the first person he looks at and probably the last person he looks at before he throws the ball to see where he’s at.’’
There was speculation the Colts needed to reinforce the safety room before losing Scott. It seems more relevant now.
“We’re always looking at that stuff,’’ Steichen said. “We’re always looking.’’
There’s no lack of available veteran safeties: Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Eddie Jackson, Micah Hyde.
Not surprisingly, the current Colts are satisfied with the room.
“We’ve got everything we need right in the room,’’ Thomas said. “We’re ready to go.’’
“I think what we need is in the room. You control what you can control and let God handle the rest,” added Cross.
Ronnie Harrison Jr. offers safety-linebacker versatility. Other safeties on the roster include Michael Tutsie, Marcel Dabo, Kendall Brooks and Trevor Denbow.
Pittman sidelined, but OK
Steichen confirmed Michael Pittman Jr. will not participate in this week’s mandatory minicamp.
The team’s veteran receiver suffered a minor knee injury two weeks ago in practice when he elevated for an Anthony Richardson pass and collided with a few defensive backs.
Pittman did not practice last week.
“We’re going to hold him out this week as well,’’ Steichen said. “Precaution, that’s it. Get him ready for training camp.’’
Among other Colts who did not practice Tuesday: right tackle Braden Smith, wideouts Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin.
Interest in Jefferson?
Steichen didn’t offer much of a reaction when asked about the Colts’ apparent offseason interest in acquiring Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson in a trade. ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned on his podcast the Colts were one of the teams that inquired about Jefferson’s availability.
“He’s a good player,’’ Steichen said. “Probably 31 other teams probably tried to trade for Justin Jefferson, but I’ve got no comment on that.’’
This week, the Vikings made Jefferson the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback with a four-year, $140 million contract.
It’s worth noting the Colts also had serious discussions during the April NFL draft aimed at moving up from their No. 15 position to select one of the top receivers. The target might have been Malik Nabers, who went No. 6 to the New York Giants, or Rome Odunze, taken 9thoverall by the Chicago Bears.
“We made a push,’’ Ballard said at the time. “Gotta get two to tango. Nobody was moving.’’
In March, the Colts signed Pittman to a three-year, $70 million contract.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
