Have the Indianapolis Colts arrived under Daniel Jones?
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The Colts went out and dominated the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, which was led by a stellar performance all around. The offense put together 418 total yards, while the defense secured two interceptions and a fumble.
The lopsided 33-8 score showcased a team that was clearly tired of losing Week 1 games for the past 11 years. Despite the Colts being dominant with the ball, there was one aspect of the game that could have been better.
Give credit to the Dolphins' defense for being able to remotely stop the run game, as 156 rushing yards were all that was mustered. That is not a small amount by any measure, but Jonathan Taylor was held to just 71 yards through the day.
Indianapolis also had a 3.9 yards per carry average, which is not the worst, but not the best in the grand scheme of things.
That said, the Colts have made an important roster move that could be a direct result of gains in terms of the run game against the Dolphins.
The Colts have signed former Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah to the practice squad and have released Khalil Herbert.
This move might not sound that massive, but the Colts might also be doing their due diligence following their dominant win. The great teams always find ways to improve the roster as the season goes on, and Indianapolis might be trying to find a solid RB3.
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As stated, Taylor secured 71 yards on the ground, while DJ Giddens picked up 41, and Jones secured 26. Past that, there was not much to like about the run game.
Also, the Colts definitely do not want Jones to be rushing when he does not have to. He has an injury history as well, and he did take a massive shot from Matthew Judon in the game.
That said, the Colts might view Abdullah as a potential rotating option for Week 2 and beyond.
Abdullah is a longtime journeyman running back, and most recently picked up 311 yards and two touchdowns as a member of the Raiders in 2024.
Abdullah's stats may not jump off the page, but he could be in line for a contributing role in the Colts' offense moving forward. Then again, he might also just be a practice squad option.
Either way, the Colts might have the confidence to believe they can make a lot of noise in the AFC and are leaving no stone unturned.
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