Colts LB chirps back at Eagles All-Pro for blindside ‘cheap shot’

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) walks off the field with the Colts team chaplain Eric Simpson. Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Colts LB chirps back at Eagles All-Pro Jason Kelce for blindside ‘cheap shot’

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 8/22/23

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce has been known to wear his emotions on his sleeve.

Those emotions got the better of Kelce during a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday when the 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive lineman took an admitted cheap shot at linebacker Zaire Franklin moments after he made an open-field tackle on running back Kenneth Gainwell.

It was Franklin’s second hit on Gainwell in as many plays, and Kelce appeared to be irked by the level of physicality Franklin used during the scrimmage.

Jason Kelce and Zaire Franklin has been jawing all practice. Franklin laid a hit on Gainwell in the open field and Kelce just ran him down and over full speed like a Mack truck. Wild stuff.
— Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) August 22, 2023

Jason Kelce lays out Colts defender Zaire Franklin at the end of the play, leading to a sideline-clearing fight.

Franklin gave Kenny Gainwell an extra pop on previous play, and when he did it to Gainwell again, Kelce reacted.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 22, 2023

"We try and keep things civil on the field, and I pride myself on being a guy that sustains the emotions and level of play out there, and I let my emotions get the better of me," Kelce said, via NBC Sports’ John Clark. "That certainly doesn't belong out there on the field, and a little ashamed that it got to that level."

Despite Kelce’s apology, Franklin appears to be using the situation as motivation for when the two teams meet in Week 3 of the preseason on “Thursday Night Football.”

“Sometimes your speed ain’t (their) speed, people get offended, that’s life,” Franklin said, via ESPN’s Tim McManus. “…I thought the OGs would at least look me in the eye before (hitting me), but it’s all good. I might get the chance to look him in the eye on Thursday.”

The Kelce-Franklin confrontation wasn’t the only scuffle of Tuesday’s joint practice.

Another brawl broke out along the sidelines later in the day when Eagles edge-rusher Derek Barnett hit Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson with a little extra pop in an effort to knock the ball out of his hands.

#Eagles DE Derek Barnett apparently hit #Colts QB Anthony Richardson in an attempt to strip the ball which lead to a fight at the Eagles/Colts joint practice today.

Eagles rookie Jalen Carter was amongst the players that had to be held back. pic.twitter.com/U8odxoNdDK
— Philadelphia Eagles Central (@pheaglescentral) August 22, 2023

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