The Indianapolis Colts got absolutely smoked on Sunday, a brutal 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that marked their fourth consecutive defeat. But even in that wreckage, rookie linebacker CJ Allen stepped up huge in his first career NFL start, flashing some serious talent that should have fans fired up.
Rookie Goes Off Amidst the Rubble
Yeah, the final score was ugly. Nobody’s denying that. But CJ Allen, making his debut in the starting lineup, was a straight-up beast out there. He racked up a team-high 10 tackles, grabbed a sack, and snagged a tackle for loss. This dude wasn’t just showing up, he was making plays. He even dropped Trevor Lawrence for a sack, and let’s be real, seeing a rookie get after it like that against a division rival’s starting QB is always a highlight. Stampede Blue’s Chris Shepherd even shared footage of another “physical hit” from Allen, proving this wasn’t just a quiet statistical day, the kid was bringing the thunder.
One Bright Spot in a Rough Season
Look, the Colts are sitting at a dismal 2-6 on the season. Giving up 42 points and a crushing 366 total yards is never going to cut it, and it highlights just how much the defense struggled as a whole. But Allen’s production? That was one of the few real positives. He was locked in, too, telling Colts.com postgame that his prep was key to his big performance. It’s exactly what you want to hear from a young guy stepping into the spotlight. This team is clearly evaluating its younger players, and Allen just threw his hat into the ring in a major way.
What’s Next for the Colts?
So, what now? The Colts are trying to snap this four-game skid when they host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. Can they turn it around? It’s a huge test. But with CJ Allen showing out like this, you have to think there’s at least *one* player giving them something to build on. They need more of that fire. The season isn’t over, but they need to start showing up, starting with Dallas.
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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