Latest news with #JelaniWoods
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
TE Jelani Woods, S Daniel Scott participating in Indianapolis Colts' first OTA practice
TE Jelani Woods, S Daniel Scott participating in Indianapolis Colts' first OTA practice TE Jelani Woods and S Daniel Scott, who missed the 2024 season, were both participating in the Indianapolis Colts' first OTA practice. On the field for the Indianapolis Colts' first OTA practice on Wednesday were safety Daniel Scott and tight end Jelani Woods, both of whom missed the 2024 season with injuries. Scott, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft by the Colts, missed last season after suffering an Achilles injury in early June. He also missed the 2023 season with an ACL injury. Injuries have derailed Scott's first two seasons, but he's a player that head coach Shane Steichen has spoken very highly of. He's also at a position that is low on experienced depth behind Cam Bynum and Nick Cross, which could lead to a roster spot or two being up for grabs this summer. 'I think he's going to have a hell of a future,' Steichen said during last offseason's OTAs. 'He's smart, intelligent. That's part of it, playing in the back end, communication." Woods was placed on season-ending injured reserve in late August after undergoing toe surgery at that time. Woods would also miss the 2023 season while working through hamstring injuries. At 6-7, 253 pounds, with 4.61 speed and the ability to line up out wide and in the slot, Woods has the potential to be a real matchup problem in the passing game. "A big body tight end that can run the vertical routes, run the shallows, run the deep cross," Steichen said last offseason. "Obviously, he's a matchup for a defense that they gotta be prepared for." Woods is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and Scott has two years remaining.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL combine preview: Tight ends
The 2025 NFL Combine kicks off this upcoming week. So let's preview the event through the Indianapolis Colts' lens and take a look at the tight end position. For a deeper dive into the combine specifically and what you need to know from the Colts' perspective, click here. To preview other position groups, follow the links below: Quarterback Running back Wide receiver What's the need for the Colts at tight end? The need, you ask? Well, it's massive. As GM Chris Ballard said after the season, and as our eyes saw throughout the year, the Colts need a greater pass-catching presence from this position group. Last season, the four tight ends on the Colts' 53-man roster combined for 467 receiving yards. Compared to the rest of the NFL, there were 25 individual tight ends who had more receiving yards than the Colts entire unit did. Defenses had very little to worry about when it came to the Colts' tight end unit in the passing game. The trickle-down effect of that is defenses can then devote defenders elsewhere, muddying things for other Colts' pass-catchers in other parts of the field. In addition to a greater passing game presence, the Colts–like any team–could benefit from having a well-rounded skill set at that position and in the offense. When there is versatility coupled with a capable blocking and pass-catching abilities, that element adds a level of unpredictability to an offense. For Shane Steichen, it can further open up the playbook, and from the defensive perspective, with the tight end able to wear so many hats, pre-snap, defenders can't get a beat on what might be coming. The good news for the Colts is that the tight end group is one that Daniel Jeremiah recently mentioned being one of the deeper classes in this year's draft. What does the Colts current tight end depth chart look like? Jelani Woods Andrew Ogletree Will Mallory Sean McKeon Albert Okwuegbunam Relative Athletic Scores of past tight end draft picks for Colts The RAS formula–which was created by Kent Lee Platte–takes all of the measurements from the NFL Combine and Pro Days and converts them into an easily comparable figure that ranges from 0 to 10. On the RAS scale, 5.0 is considered average, with 8.0 or higher being in the top 20 percentile of the position group from an athleticism standpoint. The higher the RAS, the better the athlete. Jelani Woods: 10.00 Andrew Ogletree: 9.34 Will Mallory: 9.05 Kylen Granson: 7.72 Which tight ends were invited to the NFL combine? Elijah Arroyo, Miami Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh Jake Briningstool, Clemson Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech CJ Dippre, Alabama Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Terrance Ferguson, Oregon Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech Gunnar Helm, Texas Brant Kuithe, Utah Luke Lachey, Iowa Colston Loveland, Michigan Moliki Matavao, UCLA Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina Robbie Ouzts, Alabama Joshua Simon, South Carolina Mason Taylor, LSU Tyler Warren, Penn State
