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INDIANAPOLIS – Back in March, Ryan Grant signed a one-year deal with the Colts and then ran as the team’s definite No. 2 wideout throughout Training Camp and the preseason.
But after an ankle injury in Week Six, Grant was a non-factor for the Colts the rest of the season.
Grant returned from that injury to play the final 9 games of the regular season. In none of those games did Grant record at least 3 catches or have more than 25 receiving yards.
It was a far, far cry from what Grant gave the Colts earlier in the season, when he had 24 catches for 246 yards in the first five weeks of the year.
“Ryan Grant was good for us early until he got nicked up and then just kept getting nicked up to where he couldn’t get back to speed again,” Chris Ballard said of Grant at the GM’s season-ending press conference.
Was Ballard trying to justify his signing of Grant, who was a definite bust when you look at the receiver’s numbers in 14 games played?
Or was Ballard providing a legitimate reason that might have the Colts now looking into bringing a healthier Grant back in 2019?
Even though the Indy coaching staff thought Grant would get a late-season opportunity to get back to his earlier production, that never occurred.
A toe injury in the regular season finale kept Grant on the inactive list for both of the team’s playoff games.
Grant now enters free agency for a second straight offseason, turning 29 years old in December.
For a position group that definitely needs upgrading, wouldn’t bringing Grant back limit that position’s ceiling a bit?
The wide receiver bunch for the Colts in 2018 lacked size and the ability to separate on a consistent enough basis.
Turning to more of a younger, physically built receiver is the route I think the receiver positions needs to evolve towards in 2019.
The Colts entered the offseason with 15 unrestricted free agents.
–Adam Vinatieri: The team officially re-signed Vinatieri to a one-year deal on January 28th
–Mark Glowinski: The team officially re-signed Glowinski to a three-year deal on January 29th
–Matt Slauson: The veteran offensive lineman retired from the NFL on February 6th
Free Agent Watches
–Defensive Lineman Margus Hunt
