INDIANAPOLIS – The repercussions of JuJu Brents’ absence can’t be overstated.
When an MRI revealed the second-year starting cornerback would require surgery to repair a knee injury and miss extended time, perhaps the remainder of the season, it represented a significant blow to one of the Indianapolis Colts’ most tenuous position rooms.
Yes, the NFL is a next-man-up business. Always has been.
The issue is who’s next in line?
When the Colts venture to Green Bay Sunday for a meeting with the Packers, they’ll do so with two givens: nickel corner Kenny Moore II and left-side starter Jaylon Jones.
After that? The next-man options on the active roster consist of Dallis Flowers, Chris Lammons and Samuel Womack III. Consider:
Flowers is less than a year removed from a torn right Achilles. He suffered the season-ending injury Oct. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, but his rehab progressed to the point Flowers started all three preseasons and handled 85 snaps on defense and another 11 on special teams.
“I’m comfortable,’’ Flowers said. “Of course, you know, (the Achilles is) in the back of my head a little bit, but I don’t think about it too much. I’m getting better literally day-by-day, week-by-week.
“Keep playing, keep working hard. That’s how I got here. I’m going to just handle my business throughout the week and whatever’s going to happen on Sunday’s going to happen.’’
Lammons primarily has been a special-teams contributor during his five-year career: 47 games, one start, no more than 60 defensive snaps in any season since his rookie year with Miami. In the Colts’ opening loss to Houston, he was on the field for 22 special-teams snaps, zero on defense.
Womack was claimed off waivers from San Francisco Aug. 28. The Niners’ 2022 fifth-round pick appeared in 24 games with one start. Sunday, Womack was active against Houston, and participated in two special-teams plays.
There’s been steady criticism of the Colts for an offseason approach that didn’t include signing a veteran cornerback or veteran safety. Each area lacked proven depth.
Brents’ injury exacerbates the cornerback issue.
“We felt good about the room. We did,’’ coach Shane Steichen said. “We’ve got young guys, obviously, and we have full faith and confidence in those guys and they’ve gotta go play. Young guys gotta go play in this league.
“That’s how you develop as a player.’’
As for Brents’ injury, he added, “that was a tough break. You can’t predict injuries.’’
Perhaps not, but the Warren Central H.S. product has dealt with a variety of injuries in less than three years. He underwent wrist surgery after the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and subsequently has missed practice time and games with hamstring, quadriceps, shoulder and ankle injuries, along with a broken nose. Brents required a “clean-up’’ ankle procedure in June.
“It’s always the next-man-up mentality,’’ said Jones, who started 10 games after being selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. “That’s the profession that we’re in.
“It sucks. It hurts not to have my brother (Brents) out there.’’
Initially, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley might turn to his most trusted DB to fill Brents’ void.
That would be Moore. He’s one of the league’s premier nickel corners, but frequently has moved to the outside whenever the situation warrants.
“Everything’s alive,’’ Steichen said with a grin. “Everything’s alive.’’
The Colts are preparing to face Packers’ backup quarterback Malik Willis after Jordan Love sprained his left MCL in Green Bay’s opening loss to Philadelphia in Brazil.
Love did not practice Wednesday even though coach Matt LaFleur has been coy regarding Love’s availability against the Colts.
Asked on Monday if the door was open for Love to play, he said, “I’d say it’s pretty open.’’
That might be gamesmanship to keep the Colts guessing.
Willis has been largely ineffective since being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Tennessee Titans. In his only three starts, all as a rookie, Willis has completed 51% of his passes, averaged 4.8 yards per attempt, has no touchdowns, three interceptions and a 39.0 rating.
If the Colts aren’t overly concerned with Willis’ ability to do damage in the pass game, they could use more base defense and position Moore and Jones as the outside corners.
Again, Moore is the stabilizing force on the backend of Indy’s defense. He has started 91 of 104 games with 17 interceptions in his eight seasons with the Colts. The rest of the corners on the active roster share 106 games, 18 starts and two interceptions.
It’s entirely possible the Colts dip into their practice squad for game-day assistance. Four corners are on the practice squad: rookie Jaylin Simpson, Ameer Speed, Kelvin Joseph and David Long Jr.
Downs getting closer
The percentages continue to move in favor of Josh Downs seeing his first action of the season.
The Colts’ slot receiver returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday after missing the Houston opener while continuing his rehab on a high ankle sprain.
Downs estimated he was “probably 70 percent last week. I just wasn’t ready to go.’’
And this week?
“Eighty-90,’’ he said. “Getting there, for sure.
“(It’s) just knowing I’m not thinking about my ankle and I have to react to somebody and just be able to confidently cut and stop on a dime.’’
Are you there, yet?
“Yeah,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t be out there practicing if I wasn’t. So, yeah, I think I’m close.’’
Gay ready?
Steichen said early Wednesday Matt Gay “was good to go.’’ The veteran kicker missed the Houston game after undergoing hernia surgery in late August.
Gay was guarded with the media until he was informed of Steichen’s comments
“Coach said?’’ he said with a smile. “(So), coach said. I guess it is what it is.
“Still working through it with coach and trainers about the best plan working forward. I’m preparing like I’m going to play this week.
“So, I’m going to get out there and kick and see how it goes and how it feels.’’
Gay began kicking last week and has gradually increased the intensity.
“With any injury, (it) just takes time getting back,’’ Gay said. “You get your strength back, you’re able to do more each and every day.
“We’ve been working pretty good in the training room to get back, doing a lot of exercises to make sure that we’ve tested all the ranges of motion.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.