Team news: Indianapolis Colts | Page 31

Jonathan Taylor’s not going anywhere.

The only question is how many touches he will get. Marlon Mack is still alive and kicking and the Colts still see him as the starting tailback. But it will be a shared workload, and Taylor can increase his opportunities based on his performance.

Related players: Nyheim Hines

The writer said Taylor has shown to be more physical than advertised, and also could be a help in the passing game. He added Taylor is off to a fast start so far. Mack will still be a factor and Hines will likely get his share of passes, but Taylor is a guy to grab in fantasy drafts.

Michael Pittman Jr. is a lock to make the roster. The question for him is whether he will be in the starting lineup. The odds of that happening seem decent, especially because Pittman’s role in the offense is very specific and not as interchangeable as some of the other receivers. But the Colts will use a rotation at receiver and also will make heavy use of their tight ends. That will impact how many snaps Pittman ultimately plays.

Pittman hasn't been flashy but at the same time has lived up to expectations so far. Pittman has been on the receiving end of a lot of short, quick passes from QB Philip Rivers so he seems to have a set role in the offense right now. He's a big target for the X receiver spot.

The Bucs have brought in veteran kickers Ryan Succop and Cody Parkey as potential competition. The two have started the process of COVID-19 testing and should be able to work out Monday, with one or both signed Tuesday to compete with Matt Gay for the Bucs’ kicking job.

“Competition is going to breed success, and the potential of our team this year is super-high, and the kicking position is very important,” Gay said Sunday. “Obviously, they’re going to look for who they can feel confident going into the season with. If I come in and do my thing, do my part, I feel confident in myself (that if) I take care of what I’m doing, that’ll be me going into the season.”

Related players: Elliott Fry

Gay may have helped put himself ahead in the last three days as he hit both of his field goals in Friday’s scrimmage at Raymond James Stadium, but he’s facing even more competition for his job in the last week before NFL teams make their final cuts.

It won’t just be Nyheim Hines. It will be a lot of Nyheim Hines. Maybe even primarily Nyheim Hines. But the rest of the Indianapolis Colts running back room is going to get heavily involved in the passing game with Philip Rivers at the helm. That much was made clear Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium during the first of two dress rehearsals the Colts planned in lieu of a traditional preseason.

Related players: Jonathan Taylor, Marlon Mack, Phillip Rivers

The story said it wasn't just check-down passes either, there were wheel routes. Hines led the way among backs with seven receptions Monday. But Taylor added five (with a drop), while incumbent starter Mack added a pair of his own. The Colt RBs have all stood out in camp so far. Taylor could end up passing Mack for the lead back, but Mack has done nothing so far to lose the job it seems.

Prized Colts rookie Jonathan Taylor has been an impressive specimen in training camp and Nyheim Hines has been incredibly active in the passing game.

But forgetting about the returning 1,000-yard rusher in Indianapolis would be a mistake.

Marlon Mack put an exclamation mark on a strong training camp so far by taking over for a brief stretch at the team’s Lucas Oil Stadium practice, the longest and heaviest practice of camp.

Mack took advantage of some huge holes, the story said, but either way, we still have Taylor as the back to own. We rank Taylor 21st with Mack coming in at 46th. Mack may start out as the main back, but we think the writing is on the wall when it comes to Taylor, who the team traded up to get this past spring.

During his media availability, Colts RB Marlon Mack said rookie RB Jonathan Taylor is, " going to be a beast. Teams should be aware of him. Just wait," said Mack. Mack also said that Taylor having a role will help keep him fresh and add years to his career.

Mack praising Taylor is no surprise, as well as a veteran response. The two appear to be be headed into a true 50/50 workload, but also have passing down backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins lurking.

The power was impossible to deny.

Jonathan Taylor in full stride in the open field, veteran safety Tavon Wilson bearing down on him, getting ready to deliver the blow.

Taylor only lowered his shoulders a bit, ever so slightly, and plowed into Wilson, the force of the blow blasting Wilson back and turning him to the side, Taylor absorbing the blow and continuing on his way.

Related players: Marlon Mack

Known for his game-breaking speed and knack for hitting a home run during his three seasons at Wisconsin, the Colts rookie has been showing off a complete game in the first two training camp days of his career, the kind that offers tantalizing possibilities to an Indianapolis offense that famously wants to Run the Damn Ball as much as possible, the story all said. Taylor is ranked 22nd on our RB list and continues to get positive press so far this offseason.

Jonathan Taylor is expected to share carries with starter Marlon Mack, but don’t be surprised if the rookie has a few breakout games and HC Frank Reich stays with him.

The story said the coaches are impressed by Taylor's physical appearance and the rookies have been in the building longer than anyone so coaches are getting good looks. It added Reich likes riding the hot hand, so if Taylor is giving a defense trouble, the author thinks Reich will keep calling his number.

Broncos just informed former Super-Bowl MVP Joe Flacco that he is being waived with a failed physical designation, per source.

Flacco now joins a group of free-agent QBs looking for work.

Joe Flacco missed the final eight games of the 2019 season due to a neck injury, commencing the Drew Lock era in Denver. A starting job may not be in the cards for Flacco, but could find work as a veteran backup for a team with a young signal-caller.