Justin Walley might be waiting for his very first snap in an NFL game, but he just went out and absolutely balled in Saturday’s short Colts practice. This dude is supposed to be the mystery man in their starting cornerback trio, yet he just put on a show in the red zone that demands serious attention. The Colts are clearly high on him, even holding him out of Thursday night’s preseason game against the Patriots, which came just two days after he played a heavy complement of snaps in a joint practice with New England.
Walley’s Red Zone Clinic
We’re talking about a practice totally geared toward the red-zone passing game, the kind of drills where every rep is under a microscope. And Walley? He broke up two passes in the end zone, no joke. He went up high to deny veteran receiver Laquon Treadwell on one play. Then, on another, Walley covered Treadwell’s initial route perfectly before cutting back and knocking the ball away again. That’s big-time stuff, showing both athleticism and solid football IQ. When you’re an unknown making plays like that against a veteran receiver, people notice.
The Colts’ Cornerback Depth Just Got Interesting
Walley is still the new face among their starting three corners, no doubt. You’ve got Sauce Gardner with two All-Pro nods to his name, and Charvarius Ward with all those accolades and Super Bowl experience. Walley’s the guy waiting for his official debut. But his impact in practice just got a lot more critical. Why? Ward is nursing a back injury he picked up last week and didn’t even travel with the team to New England.
If Ward, or any of their top trio for that matter, is forced to miss time, the next player up is likely former Bengals cornerback Cameron Taylor-Britt. The Colts could then use either Walley or Taylor-Britt in the slot. Walley even got some work on the outside in Saturday’s practice, which tells you he’s showing versatility. This young gun is already proving he can step up when needed, and that’s huge for preseason depth.
With Ward’s health a question mark, Walley’s value just skyrockets. This isn’t just a flash in the pan; it’s Walley showing he belongs. Every rep in preseason is a chance to solidify a spot, especially with injuries looming. You gotta wonder if Walley is playing his way into a much bigger role than anyone expected as the preseason continues.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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