6 standouts from Packers' preseason win over the Colts
After a sluggish first half, the offense found its groove in the second half, scoring 20 points behind a run game that totaled 159 yards and three touchdowns. Green Bay took the lead with 1:31 remaining after Sean Clifford found the end zone on an 11-yard scramble.
The Colts nearly stole the game in the final seconds. On 4th-and-10, Jason Bean threw a deep pass to tight end Jelani Woods that looked complete initially and would have spotted the ball at Green Bay's 1-yard line with seven seconds left. However, the officials said the pass was incomplete in a ruling that will be heavily debated.
As far as preseason games go, this one at least delivered an entertaining ending, and the Packers showed a lot more fight than they did a week ago against the New York Jets. Green Bay will officially wrap up its preseason next Saturday in a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
Here were the standouts against Indianapolis.
WR Julian Hicks
With all of Green Bay's top receivers injured or held out, Saturday's matchup against Indianapolis presented a great opportunity for the backups. Hicks made the most of it, but you wouldn't know it looking at the box score. Two of his catches were wiped out by penalties—one a 14-yarder, the other an incredible one-handed 31-yard grab nullified by holding. Fortunately, Hicks did have a 14-yard grab in the second half that did count.
WR Mecole Hardman
Hardman needed a strong performance after a poor showing last week, in which he muffed a punt that resulted in a turnover and dropped his only target. This week, Hardman returned a punt 10 yards and had a couple of catches, including a nice 21-yard grab on a 3rd-and-6 in the first quarter. The speedy veteran still has a ways to go to secure a roster spot, but his performance in Indianapolis was a step in the right direction.
WR Cornelius Johnson
Johnson also stepped up in the absence of the Packers' top pass catchers. He led the team with 41 yards on three catches, including a big 18-yard catch on a 4th-and-3 from Taylor Elgersma to help set up the game-tying touchdown. All three of his receptions resulted in first downs.
DE Deslin Alexandre
Alexandre was the only member of the Packers to record a sack against the Colts. With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Green Bay ran a stunt on 3rd-and-7, freeing up Alexandre to deliver a nice hit against Anthony Richardson. The sack forced the Colts to punt from their own 3-yard line.
RB Israel Abanikanda
Claimed off waivers in July, Abanikanda has done a nice job on special teams and finished as the Packers' leading rusher in Indianapolis. He totaled 43 yards on the ground and had a hard-nosed three-yard run for the team's first touchdown. The former fifth-round pick also stood out on special teams, recording a tackle on kick coverage and returning five kicks for 120 yards. He's currently averaging 26.7 yards per kick return during the preseason. Abanikanda's chances of making the team aren't great, but he is making a solid case for the practice squad.
RB Amar Johnson
It wasn't quite last week's 67-yard performance, but Johnson enjoyed another productive outing in Week 2 of the preseason. He totaled 33 yards on eight touches and showed off some tough running on his nine-yard touchdown to tie the game at 16. Johnson appears to be in a close battle with Abanikanda for a spot on the practice squad.
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