Unlike last year, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco didn’t have to wait long to sign with a team. According to reports, the reigning Comeback Player of the Year agreed to a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Flacco will get $4.5 million in guaranteed money as part of the deal but has the opportunity to earn an additional $4.2 million.

Flacco remained unsigned deep into the 2023 season before joining the Cleveland Browns in the wake of starter Deshaun Watson’s injury. He ended up making five starts, leading the Browns to a 4-1 record and playoff appearance while throwing for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns. Flaco added 307 passing yards and a touchdown in the postseason but couldn’t help Cleveland avoid a loss to the Houston Texans.

While the Browns didn’t seem to have much interest in keeping Flacco, the Colts gladly took the opportunity. Flacco should serve as a mentor to their inexperienced second-year QB Anthony Richardson while also giving them a great safety net in case Richardson keeps on having health issues. Indianapolis previously lost backup Gardner Minshew in free agency.

Flacco entered the league in 2008 as the first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. He spent 11 years with the Ravens, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl win in 2012 season as Super Bowl MVP. Flacco later suited up for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles.

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The Indianapolis Colts have placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on wideout Michael Pittman Jr.. The organization officially confirmed the move on Tuesday.

The non-exclusive franchise tag doesn’t prevent Pittman Jr. from entering the free-agent market. However, the Colts are able to match any offer he ends up signing and retain him under those conditions. If Pittman doesn’t sign an offer sheet with another team, he will return to Indianapolis in 2024 and play for a guaranteed $21.8 million salary.

Michael Pittman Jr. has had his best season as a pro in 2023. He finished the campaign with 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. Since entering the league as the Colts’ second-round pick in 2020, he has 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and five touchdowns.

“We love everything about him, and we want him to be a Colt,” Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen said on Tuesday via ESPN.

Michael Pittman Jr. is the first player the Colts have placed a franchise tag on since punter Pat McAfee back in 2013. According to reports, despite the tag, Indy and Pittman will continue negotiating, and there is optimism on both sides that they can reach a long-term agreement before the 2024 season kicks off. 

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The Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The team announced that the running back was downgraded after injuring his shoulder during last week’s 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injured during the second quarter after a 16-yard scoring pass from Gardner Minshew, Moss was unable to return for the remainder of the game.

With Moss no longer in contention to start Sunday’s game, the Colts will be hoping that fellow running back Jonathan Taylor will be fit to play after missing the last three games after getting thumb surgery. The 2021 NFL rushing leader tore a ligament in his right thumb during the Colts win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 26.

Currently the seventh and final seed in the AFC, the Colts are in with a shot to seal a playoff berth so long as they keep up their winning ways. The Colts are second in the AFC South, tied with both the first-placed Jaguars and Texans, with all three teams on an 8-6 record.

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Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Friday yet remains listed as questionable ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons as he continues to harbor a shoulder injury. Still, the Colts receiver does not recall the hit that landed him in concussion protocol.

Pittman was on the receiving end of an illegal hit from safety Damontae Kazee during the Colts’ 30-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. “I honestly never saw him coming,” Pittman admitted. “I was diving, I caught it, and then all of a sudden, I woke up and there’s people looking down at me. I was like, ‘Oh, s—, what just happened?”

Kazee lowered his head and hit Pittman in his head and neck area, with the Colts receiver’s head snapping back in the process. Pittman hit the turf and was knocked unconscious, with Kazee being ejected from the game. On Monday, he was suspended for the remainder of the regular season, firefighting about $208,000 in pay as a result.

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After Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor underwent thumb surgery that will sideline for several weeks, the Indianapolis Colts will once again lean on third-year back Zack Moss to lead their running game. And it appears that Moss is ready to step up.

 Moss started the first five games of the 2023 campaign for the Colts while Taylor was holding out due to a contract dispute. He did a great job during that time, having two games with 122+ rushing and scoring three touchdowns.

Taylor returned to action in early October and assumed his starting place in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns, with Moss being demoted to a complementary role.

“I’ve already kind of done it before,” Moss said about being the Colts’ main running back once again. “Now’s the time to do it again. That’s why you prepare every day — you never know what’s going to happen in this league.”

Despite seeing his number of touches diminished in recent weeks, Zack Moss is still enjoying a career-best year. He already has career highs in carries (141), rushing yards (672) and touchdowns (5).

The Colts will hope that Moss can replicate his form from the start of the season, especially considering they are in the midst of an unexpected playoff hunt. Indianapolis is currently second in the AFC South with a 6-5 record.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is set to undergo surgery on his thumb on Wednesday, team owner Jim Irsay confirmed. The Colts are hoping that Taylor’s absence will only be in the region of two to three weeks.

During the Colts’ 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccanneers on Sunday, Taylor emerged as a standout player, having played throughout the entire game. Playing 42 snaps and making 15 carries, Taylor closed out the game with an eight-yard run with 1:24 remaining, allowing the Colts to run out the clock and secure victory.

Following a public contract standoff, Taylor’s season has been disrupted by injuries, with the running back missing the first four games of the current campaign due to an ankle injury. His performances have improved since signing a three-year, $42 million extension, bringing an end to the contract dispute.

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The Indianapolis Colts have waived All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard, ending his stint with the organization after five and half seasons. The Colts confirmed the news on their social media.

After the move was official, Leonard posted a message on social media, thanking Colts fans and the community in Indianapolis for their support over the years.

Leonard emerged as one of the most important players for the Colts upon joining the franchise as a second-round pick in 2018. However, his status on the team changed after he underwent back surgery in 2022. The coaching staff believed he hadn’t returned to the level he was on before and limited his playing time this season as a result. This didn’t sit well with the 28-year-old player, who expressed his frustration about the news on several occasions before. 

“It was shocking,” Leonard said via ESPN about his release. “I asked for a November meeting. I guess I got a November meeting. I guess you’ve got to be careful what you ask for.”

Leonard started nine games for the Colts in 2023 but played only 70% of snaps on defense in those games. While he managed to make 65 tackles, he didn’t showcase much of his playmaking abilities, which made him an All-Pro caliber player earlier in his career.

The Colts likely moved from Leonard because of his underwhelming performances but also to get out of his massive contract. He had three more years on a five-year, $99 million deal he signed in 2021 but no guaranteed money after this season.

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Despite dealing with injuries in the linebacker position, the Indianapolis Colts are not counting on veteran Shaquille Leonard to play a significant role in their defense in the coming weeks. The news didn’t sit well with the three-time Pro Bowler, who expressed his frustration about lack of playing time while talking with reporters on Thursday.

According to Leonard, he was notified by the Colts’ linebackers coach, Richard Smith, that he would receive limited snaps and wouldn’t be on the field on third downs.

“So that’s when I kind of knew, and it sucked hearing that,” Leonard said. “You’re already not playing on third [down]; you’re taking the reps on second down too? So it’s very heartbreaking to get that, but it is what it is.”

The Colts lost middle linebacker Zaire Franklin to a knee injury but opted to start second-year player Segun Olubi in his place. Leonard, on the other hand, has been splitting his reps with EJ Speed on the outside linebacker position.

After making the All-Pro team in each of his first four years as a pro, Shaquille Leonard had an injury-riddled 2022 campaign that saw him play only three games. There is a possibility that the Colts still don’t believe Leonard returned to his previous form, and that is why they are limiting his snaps.

Leonard is still having a solid year despite a lack of playing time. He has recorded 56 tackles, including two tackles for loss in eight games he appeared in.

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The Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson might have already played the final snap of his first NFL season. According to multiple reports, Richardson is considering getting surgery on his ailing shoulder that would rule him out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.

Richardson landed on Injured Reserve last week after being diagnosed with an AC sprain in his right shoulder. The injury didn’t seem season-ending at the time, but it appears the situation has changed since.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Richardson visited a number of specialists in order to figure out the best way to deal with the issue. The overwhelming conclusion is that the surgery is the best option for the long-term health of his shoulder.    

The injuries limited Richardson to four games in 2023, in which he completed 59.5% of his passes while throwing for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also has 136 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Even if the Colts lose Richardson for the season, they are well-positioned to remain competitive. They have veteran Gardner Minshew III as part of their QB room, and the former sixth-round pick is widely considered the best backup in the league. Minshew has 7,514 passing yards and 47 touchdowns since entering the league in 2019.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is set to miss at least four games after he incurred a right shoulder injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday; a move that requires him to sit out the next four games.

During the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Richardson experienced an AC joint sprain. Since the quarterback’s injury, the Colts have conducted extensive consultations with doctors. Now, the team expects Richardson to miss between four and eight weeks depending on the rehabilitation process and when surgery will be required.

Currently 3-2, the Colts are tied at the top of the AFC South alongside the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two leading teams in the AFC South are set to face off in Week 6.

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Unlike last year, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco didn’t have to wait long to sign with a team. According to reports, the reigning Comeback Player of the Year agreed to a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Flacco will get $4.5 million in guaranteed money as part of the deal but has the opportunity to earn an additional $4.2 million.

Flacco remained unsigned deep into the 2023 season before joining the Cleveland Browns in the wake of starter Deshaun Watson’s injury. He ended up making five starts, leading the Browns to a 4-1 record and playoff appearance while throwing for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns. Flaco added 307 passing yards and a touchdown in the postseason but couldn’t help Cleveland avoid a loss to the Houston Texans.

While the Browns didn’t seem to have much interest in keeping Flacco, the Colts gladly took the opportunity. Flacco should serve as a mentor to their inexperienced second-year QB Anthony Richardson while also giving them a great safety net in case Richardson keeps on having health issues. Indianapolis previously lost backup Gardner Minshew in free agency.

Flacco entered the league in 2008 as the first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. He spent 11 years with the Ravens, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl win in 2012 season as Super Bowl MVP. Flacco later suited up for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles.

The post Ex-Browns QB Joe Flacco Signs With the Colts on 1-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Indianapolis Colts have placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on wideout Michael Pittman Jr.. The organization officially confirmed the move on Tuesday.

The non-exclusive franchise tag doesn’t prevent Pittman Jr. from entering the free-agent market. However, the Colts are able to match any offer he ends up signing and retain him under those conditions. If Pittman doesn’t sign an offer sheet with another team, he will return to Indianapolis in 2024 and play for a guaranteed $21.8 million salary.

Michael Pittman Jr. has had his best season as a pro in 2023. He finished the campaign with 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. Since entering the league as the Colts’ second-round pick in 2020, he has 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and five touchdowns.

“We love everything about him, and we want him to be a Colt,” Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen said on Tuesday via ESPN.

Michael Pittman Jr. is the first player the Colts have placed a franchise tag on since punter Pat McAfee back in 2013. According to reports, despite the tag, Indy and Pittman will continue negotiating, and there is optimism on both sides that they can reach a long-term agreement before the 2024 season kicks off. 

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The Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The team announced that the running back was downgraded after injuring his shoulder during last week’s 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injured during the second quarter after a 16-yard scoring pass from Gardner Minshew, Moss was unable to return for the remainder of the game.

With Moss no longer in contention to start Sunday’s game, the Colts will be hoping that fellow running back Jonathan Taylor will be fit to play after missing the last three games after getting thumb surgery. The 2021 NFL rushing leader tore a ligament in his right thumb during the Colts win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 26.

Currently the seventh and final seed in the AFC, the Colts are in with a shot to seal a playoff berth so long as they keep up their winning ways. The Colts are second in the AFC South, tied with both the first-placed Jaguars and Texans, with all three teams on an 8-6 record.

The post Colts’ Zack Moss Ruled Out of Falcons Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Friday yet remains listed as questionable ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons as he continues to harbor a shoulder injury. Still, the Colts receiver does not recall the hit that landed him in concussion protocol.

Pittman was on the receiving end of an illegal hit from safety Damontae Kazee during the Colts’ 30-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. “I honestly never saw him coming,” Pittman admitted. “I was diving, I caught it, and then all of a sudden, I woke up and there’s people looking down at me. I was like, ‘Oh, s—, what just happened?”

Kazee lowered his head and hit Pittman in his head and neck area, with the Colts receiver’s head snapping back in the process. Pittman hit the turf and was knocked unconscious, with Kazee being ejected from the game. On Monday, he was suspended for the remainder of the regular season, firefighting about $208,000 in pay as a result.

The post Colts’ Michael Pittman Clears Concussion Protocol appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor underwent thumb surgery that will sideline for several weeks, the Indianapolis Colts will once again lean on third-year back Zack Moss to lead their running game. And it appears that Moss is ready to step up.

 Moss started the first five games of the 2023 campaign for the Colts while Taylor was holding out due to a contract dispute. He did a great job during that time, having two games with 122+ rushing and scoring three touchdowns.

Taylor returned to action in early October and assumed his starting place in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns, with Moss being demoted to a complementary role.

“I’ve already kind of done it before,” Moss said about being the Colts’ main running back once again. “Now’s the time to do it again. That’s why you prepare every day — you never know what’s going to happen in this league.”

Despite seeing his number of touches diminished in recent weeks, Zack Moss is still enjoying a career-best year. He already has career highs in carries (141), rushing yards (672) and touchdowns (5).

The Colts will hope that Moss can replicate his form from the start of the season, especially considering they are in the midst of an unexpected playoff hunt. Indianapolis is currently second in the AFC South with a 6-5 record.

The post Zack Moss on Being Colts’ Leading RB Again: “I’ve Already Kind of Done it Before” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is set to undergo surgery on his thumb on Wednesday, team owner Jim Irsay confirmed. The Colts are hoping that Taylor’s absence will only be in the region of two to three weeks.

During the Colts’ 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccanneers on Sunday, Taylor emerged as a standout player, having played throughout the entire game. Playing 42 snaps and making 15 carries, Taylor closed out the game with an eight-yard run with 1:24 remaining, allowing the Colts to run out the clock and secure victory.

Following a public contract standoff, Taylor’s season has been disrupted by injuries, with the running back missing the first four games of the current campaign due to an ankle injury. His performances have improved since signing a three-year, $42 million extension, bringing an end to the contract dispute.

The post Colts’ Jonathan Taylor to Undergo Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Indianapolis Colts have waived All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard, ending his stint with the organization after five and half seasons. The Colts confirmed the news on their social media.

After the move was official, Leonard posted a message on social media, thanking Colts fans and the community in Indianapolis for their support over the years.

Leonard emerged as one of the most important players for the Colts upon joining the franchise as a second-round pick in 2018. However, his status on the team changed after he underwent back surgery in 2022. The coaching staff believed he hadn’t returned to the level he was on before and limited his playing time this season as a result. This didn’t sit well with the 28-year-old player, who expressed his frustration about the news on several occasions before. 

“It was shocking,” Leonard said via ESPN about his release. “I asked for a November meeting. I guess I got a November meeting. I guess you’ve got to be careful what you ask for.”

Leonard started nine games for the Colts in 2023 but played only 70% of snaps on defense in those games. While he managed to make 65 tackles, he didn’t showcase much of his playmaking abilities, which made him an All-Pro caliber player earlier in his career.

The Colts likely moved from Leonard because of his underwhelming performances but also to get out of his massive contract. He had three more years on a five-year, $99 million deal he signed in 2021 but no guaranteed money after this season.

The post Colts Waive All-Pro LB Shaquille Leonard appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Despite dealing with injuries in the linebacker position, the Indianapolis Colts are not counting on veteran Shaquille Leonard to play a significant role in their defense in the coming weeks. The news didn’t sit well with the three-time Pro Bowler, who expressed his frustration about lack of playing time while talking with reporters on Thursday.

According to Leonard, he was notified by the Colts’ linebackers coach, Richard Smith, that he would receive limited snaps and wouldn’t be on the field on third downs.

“So that’s when I kind of knew, and it sucked hearing that,” Leonard said. “You’re already not playing on third [down]; you’re taking the reps on second down too? So it’s very heartbreaking to get that, but it is what it is.”

The Colts lost middle linebacker Zaire Franklin to a knee injury but opted to start second-year player Segun Olubi in his place. Leonard, on the other hand, has been splitting his reps with EJ Speed on the outside linebacker position.

After making the All-Pro team in each of his first four years as a pro, Shaquille Leonard had an injury-riddled 2022 campaign that saw him play only three games. There is a possibility that the Colts still don’t believe Leonard returned to his previous form, and that is why they are limiting his snaps.

Leonard is still having a solid year despite a lack of playing time. He has recorded 56 tackles, including two tackles for loss in eight games he appeared in.

The post Colts’ LB Shaquille Leonard Expresses Frustration With Lack of Playing Time appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson might have already played the final snap of his first NFL season. According to multiple reports, Richardson is considering getting surgery on his ailing shoulder that would rule him out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.

Richardson landed on Injured Reserve last week after being diagnosed with an AC sprain in his right shoulder. The injury didn’t seem season-ending at the time, but it appears the situation has changed since.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Richardson visited a number of specialists in order to figure out the best way to deal with the issue. The overwhelming conclusion is that the surgery is the best option for the long-term health of his shoulder.    

The injuries limited Richardson to four games in 2023, in which he completed 59.5% of his passes while throwing for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also has 136 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Even if the Colts lose Richardson for the season, they are well-positioned to remain competitive. They have veteran Gardner Minshew III as part of their QB room, and the former sixth-round pick is widely considered the best backup in the league. Minshew has 7,514 passing yards and 47 touchdowns since entering the league in 2019.

The post Colts Rookie QB Anthony Richardson is Considering Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is set to miss at least four games after he incurred a right shoulder injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday; a move that requires him to sit out the next four games.

During the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Richardson experienced an AC joint sprain. Since the quarterback’s injury, the Colts have conducted extensive consultations with doctors. Now, the team expects Richardson to miss between four and eight weeks depending on the rehabilitation process and when surgery will be required.

Currently 3-2, the Colts are tied at the top of the AFC South alongside the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two leading teams in the AFC South are set to face off in Week 6.

The post Colts’ Anthony Richardson to Miss Four Games After Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.