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After missing the playoffs in the 2021 season, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard took it upon himself to go all out to revamp the roster over the opening months of the offseason.
After a roller-coaster campaign from the Colts defense, Ballard opted to bring in a couple of former Pro Bowl talents in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. And as team officials watched as Carson Wentz failed to finish the season on a strong note with a playoff appearance, Ballard decided to ship him off to the Washington Commanders.
Much attention for the Colts in the upcoming 2022 season sure will center on Matt Ryan, who they acquired from the Atlanta Falcons in March. However, success for the Colts offense later this year is not slated to simply boil down to whether the one-time NFL MVP winner can orchestrate a vintage campaign, but it will also be up to Indianapolis’ wide receiver corps to rise to the occasion for the team.
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Colts Key Position Group For 2022 NFL Season
With mere weeks until the Colts kick off their training camp schedule, there are still multiple question marks set on their receiver unit. At the least, Ryan is expected to call on Michael Pittman Jr. to be his top wideout target. Pittman wound up being the lone receiver who Wentz was able to continually count on last year, as he posted career highs in snaps played (979) and receiving yards (1,082).
From there, much is unknown about how the rest of the Colts’ wideout group will come together. For one, Parris Campbell is coming off of a season where he featured in just 15.9 percent of snaps on offense, as he missed time due to a foot injury that ended up sending him to the injured reserve list.
From Colts head coach Frank Reich's standpoint, he views a receiver in Campbell who can provide versatility to the offense, such as by taking reps as a slot wideout.
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“I’ve always seen Parris since the day we drafted him as a guy who can play every position and can really do it all,” Reich said in June during Colts’ OTAs. “I think he can play in the slot, he can play all that game – the shallows, the crosses, the option-routes. He’s smart, he’s explosive, you can put him at the outside. He’s got speed to get deep. He’s got good footwork on the top of routes on the outside going vertical.
“So, really develop him as a complete receiver. Really, that’s the upside if he can stay healthy. He’s got to prove it. He’s got to prove that he can stay healthy. He’s got to prove that he can execute and make play after play after play, but I see him as having that kind of potential.”
The Colts are also projected to provide multiple other young receivers with the chance to help balance out the offense for Ryan, including Alec Pierce. Amid the uncertainty revolving around T.Y. Hilton’s future in Indianapolis, the Colts elected to use their second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Pierce, which came following a season where he logged 884 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns in his final campaign with the Cincinnati Bearcats. From his speed off of the line of scrimmage to his agility in the open field, he upped his draft stock over the year.
As with Campbell, Reich sees plenty of potential in what Pierce can bring to the table on offense.
“I think we have high expectations for him but have a lot of confidence in that whole room as you guys know,” Reich said during Colts' OTAs. “Alec (Pierce), one of the things we like about him is he’s a very smart guy. He really has learned the offense quickly. He’s done a good job so he’s going to have to compete for every snap, right?
“It’s a very competitive group. But yeah, we’re definitely pushing him. We’re definitely pushing him and want him to compete to get in the mix and get on the field.”
The likes of Dezmon Patmon and Ashton Dulin are also expected to receive a fair share of snaps in an offense that will be anchored by offensive coordinator Marcus Brady.
In the big picture, Brady is on par to once again rely upon running back Jonathan Taylor to lead the way on offense, which comes following a season where the Colts called on rushing plays for 47.4 percent of snaps. And if the Colts’ promising wideout unit is able to add another dimension to the offense, Indianapolis can make a stout case to clinch a spot in the playoffs in the coming campaign.
