With Colts secondary hurting, are young DBs ready for the spotlight?

Just days before Colts mandatory minicamp, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, Sr. underwent investigation for allegedly placing hundreds of sports bets.

The same week, rookie safety Daniel Scott tore his ACL during OTAs, and was placed on IR Wednesday due to the season-ending injury.

While Scott was projected to be used primarily on special teams and as a depth piece at safety, the recent news doesn’t help a unit that’s already thin. 

The reimagination of the secondary came at the beginning of the offseason, when cornerback Brandon Facyson signed with the Raiders, cornerback Stephon Gilmore was traded to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick and safety Rodney McLeod signed with the Browns. 

The Colts attempted to replenish the secondary through the draft, selecting Julius Brents, Darius Rush, Scott, and Jaylon Jones. Adding to the pool of young rookies are Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas and Dallis Flowers, who each recently completed their first season in the pros.

Indianapolis will still be able to build around Kenny Moore II and Julian Blackmon, who have logged six seasons and three seasons, respectively. But in a league that’s shifting even more toward the passing game, and teams utilizing three or more receivers more than ever before, a well-rounded secondary is crucial to any team’s success. 

Translation: these young defenders, once safely buried on the depth chart, will be forced to step up and make plays week in and week out. 

The Colts, in typical Chris Ballard fashion, put together the most athletic draft class in the league, and that was evident in their defensive backs as well. There will be no shortage of athletic traits among these players, but football isn’t only about athleticism. 

It remains to be seen if these young players can pick up the mental aspect of the game, which will be even more crucial in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s Cover-3 scheme. 

Just a few days into minicamp, the Colts’ secondary is already looking much thinner than expected, with the loss of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, Sr. and rookie safety Daniel Scott. 

With an already-changing secondary now expected to shift to an even younger group, the pool of young rookies and second-year players will be forced to step up in order to prove they’re ready for the spotlight.