Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Colts' biggest X-factors that will define 2024 season | Sporting News
The Indianapolis Colts are looking to build upon the promising things they showed in the first season under Shane Steichen.
The franchise hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020 and the last time they won the AFC South was in 2014.
If that is going to change in 2024, they will need certain X-factors to go their way and take them to the next stage of the Steichen era.
MORE: Winners and losers from Colts’ offseason workouts
Whether it’s one player, a position group, or a coach, let’s take a look at the biggest X-factors for the Colts for the upcoming season:
Colts’ biggest X-factors in 2024
Anthony Richardson’s health and development
2024 for the Colts will be defined by Richardson’s health. Sure, they could be competitive with Joe Flacco as we saw what Shane Steichen did with Gardner Minshew in 2023. But having a healthy AR over a 39-year-old Flacco can be the difference that leads to Indianapolis ending their drought of winning the division.
The slight scare from Richardson resting during the minicamp last week is all the Colts hope they deal with his shoulder this year. Outside of health concerns, his development as a quarterback is just as important to this season’s success.
With more consistency in certain areas of his game, he can help elevate the passing attack as a threat to take the top off the defense with his arm while they have to respect what he can do with his legs. Richardson’s development as a passer can lead to a more explosive offense for the Colts.
Growth from young pieces in Colts secondary
If the Indy defense is going to take the next step in the third season under Gus Bradley, they will need the youth in the secondary to show some growth in 2024. It starts with the boundary cornerbacks, which is going to be a position battle between JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, and Jaylon Jones during the preseason.
The trio has faith from their defensive coordinator. Following the NFL draft, Bradley spoke about the competition between them.
“I think it’s really wide open,” Bradley said. “You have (Dallis Flowers) coming back and JuJu and JJ (Jaylon Jones). We really like that part of it. I think for us it’s the skillset, the length, the speed. Now it’s just the consistency. Who is going to step up and be that guy that takes the next step there as a corner?
Getting consistency from that part of the defense is what the Colts need and they are betting on a group of cornerbacks that don’t have a lot of experience to be the starting-caliber players they view them as.
Growth from their boundary corners isn’t the only part of the secondary that Indianapolis is leaning on in 2024, whether it is Nick Cross or Rodney Thomas II, they need whoever wins the free safety role to make an impact.
Cross showed some flashes towards the end of 2023. He has the skill set to develop into a starting-caliber player. The team has shown patience with him and hasn’t been pressed to sign a veteran despite losing Daniel Scott in OTAs.
Even if Chris Ballard elects to bring a veteran in at some point this summer, having Cross take the next step in his development will be vital because he still would work in the rotation and might be needed if said veteran had to miss any time.
The dynamic of an Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor backfield
Two snaps. That is all the Colts got to see Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor sharing the backfield at the same time in 2023. The electric playmaking ability the ground game can see from both players keeps your imagination running on what Shane Steichen’s offense will look like in 2024.
Not only do both help open rushing lanes for each other but the RPO game will be enhanced because of their presence as well as the play-action attack will lead to more explosive pass plays if teams start to load the box to slow down the rushing attack.
As long as AR and JT remain healthy, the offense has the potential to be a top-five offense in the NFL this season.
Charlie Partridge’s impact as defensive line coach
The Indy defensive front is deep and offers a lot of potential for the 2024 season. Despite the Colts finishing with 51 sacks in 2023, the fifth-most in the NFL and a franchise record, they elected to move on from Nate Ollie and hired Charlie Partridge as their new defensive line coach.
The long-time college coach was an assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the University of Pittsburgh. The lure of Partridge is his ability to develop players. He’s worked with players like J.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson.
“Look at his history of developing players,’’ Chris Ballard said. “This guy has coached some really good players and they all tell you he’s one of the best ones they’ve ever had.”
Outside of DeForest Buckner, you can point out certain areas each player on the defensive front could improve upon, and if Partridge can get that out of each of them then he can turn a good defensive front into an elite one.
In 2023 we saw Tony Sparano Jr. fix the offensive line in his first year with the Colts. While the defensive line doesn’t need to be fixed, Partridge can help elevate the defense by getting his defensive line to dominate every snap to help take the pressure off the young players in the secondary.
Anthony Gould and NFL’s new kickoff rule
Could a fifth-round pick already be an X-factor as a rookie? The NFL is looking to bring back kick returns with the new rule for kickoffs in 2024. Which is why Gould can end up making more of an impact than some of his draft classmates.
His 4.39 40-yard speed and experience as a returner (averaged 16.3 punt return yards) made him an ideal candidate for the new kickoff the league will see. This is something that Gould believes he can provide value to start his pro career.
“I think I can add a ton of value that way,” Gould said. “The way I look at it, it’s almost like a glorified punt. A lot of guys are going to be a lot closer in space, guys aren’t getting 20-, 25-yard head starts running towards you, so blocks are going to get picked up cleaner. It’s going to be interesting.”
Because of his electric playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, Gould’s returns could end up being a difference-maker in winning games for the Colts throughout the season.
For more Colts coverage, check out Cody Manning’s work on Sporting News.
Indianapolis, IN
NFL Trade Rumor: Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerge as top landing spots for $4M Cleveland Browns’ QB
The Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has found his name regularly among trade speculations as the team reportedly received calls from rivals about him. Though the Cleveland Browns are seemingly not looking to trade him soon, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have emerged as potential landing spots.
Which teams are interested in Shedeur Sanders?
Over the last three weeks, as ESPN insiders confirmed that the Cleveland Browns have been speaking to team about Shedeur Sanders, the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccanners have been linked to him.
What are insiders saying about the rumors?
Recently, NFL insider Michael Moraitis of the Big Lead noted in a recent report, “The Cardinals figured to go into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett as their starter, but the veteran is holding out and now his future is uncertain. General manager Monti Ossenfort is on the hot seat and cannot afford to turn the ball over to Gardner Minshew, and there’s no telling when Carson Beck will be ready. Sanders is no sure thing, but he at least offers the upside Minshew doesn’t, and the starting experience Beck doesn’t have.” NFL insider Michael Moraitis of the Big Lead added, “The Bucs and Baker Mayfield are in a contract standoff, and while the veteran is not going to hold out, he will be a free agent in 2027 if nothing changes. If Mayfield isn’t re-signed, the Bucs would be in the market for a new starting quarterback without any semblance of a potential long-term solution on the roster behind Mayfield.”
Contract details and salary cap implications
The rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is currently on a 4-year, $4.647 million rookie contract with the team.For the team that trades for him, Shedeur Sanders would have a $1.005 million base salary in 2026.As per reports, trading Shedeur Sanders would instantly clear $781,310 in immediate 2026 cap space for the Cleveland Browns as the team takes a $335,535 dead cap hit from his accelerated signing bonus.
How will the trade affect the teams?
For the Indianapolis Colts, trading for Shedeur Sanders remains very affordable as he could be a $1.005 million insurance policy to push or backup Anthony Richardson.For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, trading for Shedeur Sanders makes him a low cost backup quarterback ready to become the starter if Baker Mayfield leaves.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says a shooting investigation was underway after a 16-year-old boy was found shot on Indy’s north side Wednesday morning.
Online police reports show the call for a person shot came in in the 900 block of East 64th Street around 7:23 a.m. That’s in the Meridian-Kessler area, just west of the Monon Trail.
When officers arrived, they found the teen suffering a gunshot wound.
IMPD says he was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Officials also noted the teen has been “uncooperative” with investigators at the scene.
It was unclear if there were any suspects or what may have led up to the shooting.
This is a developing story.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Residents of Indianapolis’s near north side have a chance to help shape the future of their neighborhood.
Crossroads AME Church is hosting two community listening sessions to gather input on revitalizing the 32nd Street and Capitol Avenue corridor in the Crown Hill neighborhood.
The first session is 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, 3266 N. Meridian St. A second session is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the same location.
“We as a congregation do not want to undertake that initiative without getting input from the community,” said Reverend Jerry E. Davis III of Crossroads AME Church.
The corridor, located two blocks west of the Children’s Museum, has long been identified as an area in need of resources. Davis said the church’s research and conversations with community leaders have already surfaced concerns about access to food and pharmacy services. The area has been described by some as both a food desert and a pharmacy desert — a situation that worsened when a CVS near 38th Street and Illinois Street was replaced by a car wash.
“There is one less resource where perhaps within walking distance we can get the pharmaceutical needs that we have satisfied,” Davis said.
The July 14 session is designed as an open forum, with no limits placed on what residents can raise. Davis said the church wants to hear ideas that go beyond what research has already uncovered.
“We want to hear even beyond the numbers,” he said.
The July 30 session will give attendees a chance to return and prioritize the ideas and needs shared at the first gathering. Davis called the two sessions a “both and” opportunity, encouraging residents to attend both.
Both sessions offer in-person and virtual participation options. A free dinner will be provided at both in-person gatherings.
For more information, contact Crossroads AME Church.
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