Colts need a return man (and receiver depth) after Isaiah McKenzie departs for Giants
The Colts have a need at wide receiver and return man.
Backup slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie signed a deal with the Giants, his agency, Sports Trust Advisors, announced Tuesday on X.
The Colts were set to move on from McKenzie after suspending him along with cornerback Tony Brown II for the final four games last season for conduct detrimental to the team. Indianapolis removed their lockers from the locker room the day after announcing the suspensions.
McKenzie spent just one season in Indianapolis, where he mostly served as the team's primary return man. But his departure highlights the needs the Colts have in a couple of different areas.
The return spot is one. McKenzie served as the punt returner and filled in as the kick returner after Dallis Flowers suffered a torn Achilles. Flowers is expected to make a full recovery, but it's steep to ask a player to fill a speed-based role one year after suffering that type of injury.
Starting slot receiver Josh Downs filled in as the punt returner after McKenzie's suspension, but it will be limiting to keep him in that role moving forward with how much of a focus the Colts want to have on him in the passing game. Downs played all 17 games last season but fought through a nagging knee injury and is the smallest player on the roster at 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds.
Indianapolis was fortunate that Downs played every game, as did starting outside receiver Alec Pierce. No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. missed just one game. The Colts could use depth at the position. Although Ashton Dulin returns from a torn ACL to provide some help on the outside, the Colts don't currently have a backup in the slot role.
“I told y’all I did a poor job," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said of the wide receiver depth. "... I’ve got to do a better job of helping (receivers coach) Reggie (Wayne) and the offensive staff. Nothing against the players we had in there playing. It was a rotation all year. That’s hard and that makes it really hard on the coaches. I blame myself for that one.”
Just two days into free agency, the Colts could look for a veteran option. They could also look to an NFL Draft class that is considered one of the best in recent memory.
"It’s a really strong class," Ballard said. "I don’t know if you see them as strong as this, but I compare it almost like when Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.) came (in 2020). That year was really good and (Justin) Jefferson and (Brandon) Aiyuk and Pitt in the upper part of the draft. I think CeeDee Lamb was in that draft. It’s comparable.”
Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts need a return man after Isaiah McKenzie departs for Giants
