Latest news with #JaylonCarlies
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
The Cincinnati Bengals remain highly unlikely to find a trade partner for Germaine Pratt. Pratt, after all, has an $8 million cap hit attached to his trade request from earlier this offseason. Tack on his age, what he put on film last year and how obvious it seems that he won't be back and it feels more like he's headed toward being cut. Advertisement Still, what if a team like the Indianapolis Colts gets desperate? Those Colts now have former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in the same role. But this goes beyond that simple connection. RELATED: Shemar Stewart's contract beef with Bengals revealed in report Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin had ankle surgery and could miss everything up until training camp, if not into it. Jaylon Carlies, another linebacker, continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery, too. Despite these factors and losses in free agency, the Colts didn't draft a linebacker until the seventh round this year. Advertisement So, perhaps this situation lends itself to helping a Pratt trade happen. Perhaps it escalates if Franklin isn't full-go soon or other injuries occur. It would help if the Bengals would be willing to modify any sort of deal to get Pratt out the door. But knowing them, it's probably unlikely they would give up cash in the process. After drafting Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, though, it still feels like the Pratt bridge has burned and collapsed, opening the door for ideas like this. RELATED: Bengals takeaways and thoughts on Jermaine Burton, contract drama This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: The big question at linebacker
The Indianapolis Colts will begin Phase III of the offseason programs on May 28th, which means the start of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Rather than only doing individual drills as the Colts have been doing, they will now be permitted to do 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, although no live contact is allowed. Advertisement So with this important part of the offseason schedule about to begin, I wanted to highlight one big question facing each position group. Up next are the linebackers. Below you can find our previous position previews. Do the Indianapolis Colts have enough depth at linebacker? This was a position where throughout the offseason, I kept waiting for an addition to be made. That didn't mean I was expecting a high-profile addition, but I thought there would be some competition brought in for Jaylon Carlies. However, the only outside additions included signing Joe Bechie after the draft, who has mostly been a special teams player, signing UDFA Solomon DeShields, and perhaps drafting Hunter Wohler, although he is listed on the team site as a defensive back. Advertisement Carlies put together a very solid rookie season as the Colts' third linebacker in their 4-3 scheme at that time, along with making two starts. He was a very reliable tackler and limited YAC in the passing game. As a former college safety, he can add some needed coverage abilities to the position. With that said, Carlies has 242 career defensive snaps. Assuming he can step into a full-time starting role seamlessly comes with some risk. Also, behind him and Zaire Franklin on the depth chart, there is very little defensive experience. 'It's a position we've been pretty good drafting and developing. I give our coaches and scouts a lot of credit for that," GM Chris Ballard said via the Indy Star. "Don't forget now, E.J. Speed, it wasn't like he came on right away. No, it took him a little time. Zaire Franklin did not come on right away. Great special team player but eventually became a linebacker that was a good player." In Lou Anarumo's scheme, we are going to see more blitzing from the linebackers, not to mention there will be more disguising of coverages at the second and third levels. In this defense, there will be a greater reliance on the defensive backs than the linebackers. Advertisement But even so, the Colts are going to enter the 2025 season with question marks at this position--until shown otherwise--given the lack of experience around Franklin. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' OTAs: Is there enough linebacker depth beyond Zaire Franklin?
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breaking down Indianapolis Colts' 2025 seventh-round pick: LB Hunter Wohler
In the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Wisconsin safety turned linebacker Hunter Wohler. Let's break down the pick, and if you missed our other recaps, you can find them below. Advertisement Hunter Wohler's profile Height: 6-02 Weight: 213 Age: 22 College profile Breaking down the Indianapolis Colts' pick Wohler played safety at Wisconsin, accumulating over 1,800 defensive snaps across four seasons, which included being a starter the final two years. Throughout his career, he's been a very reliable tackler, and that, of course, has made him a strong run defender. In coverage this most recent season, Wohler held opponents to a completion rate of 59% on 27 targets, giving up 11.8 yards per catch, while forcing six pass breakups. As we saw the Colts do last season with Jaylon Carlies, Wohler is going to play some linebacker in Lou Anarumo's defense. During his career at Wisconsin, the bulk of Wohler's snaps came near the line of scrimmage, either down in the box or lined up in the slot. Advertisement So playing closer to the line of scrimmage and helping out in the run game won't be uncharted waters for him, and as a safety, he can add some more coverage ability to the linebacker position for the Colts. While the Colts will list Wohler as a safety, Chris Ballard wasn't going to pigeon-hole him to that position either, adding that Wohler could still see snaps at safety, specifically when the Colts are in dime, which we will see a lot more of under Anarumo. Wohler gives the Colts flexibility in Anarumo's versatile scheme because he can handle a variety of roles, and he provides some needed depth at the linebacker position. Wohler's greatest impact in Year 1 may end up coming on special teams, where he has his share of experience. Hunter Wohler's scouting report Lance Zierlein: "Two-year starting safety whose activity level reaches beyond what his athletic capabilities can handle at times. Wohler spent much of his time as an add-on run defender who rushed in to be part of the action. He's a run-and-hit tackler in space but a lack of burst and top-end speed causes him to lose pursuit angles and miss out on tackles. He can cover tight ends but doesn't have the range to play over the top or the open-field athleticism to survive against NFL receivers in space. Special teams play could be the key to Wohler maintaining a roster spot as an NFL backup at strong safety." They said it Tyler Hughes, area scout: 'With Hunter, the versatility was the key thing, especially later in the draft," said Hughes via the Indy Star. "He's played a lot of down linebacker, he's played strong safety, he's played free safety, he was the punt returner this year, which shows that he's a reliable dude and coaches trust him. Super smart. He's going to be a great special teams player for us. Advertisement 'With how much sub-package we're in, in the NFL nowadays, that dime linebacker role is nice for him, but that's not going to limit him to play strong safety or free safety. He has the frame to play all of them.' Hunter Wohler's athletic profile This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Breaking down Colts' pick of LB Hunter Wohler
