Colts rookie LB CJ Allen will start once ankle injury heals; what it means to depth chart
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The Colts are ready for rookie linebacker C.J. Allen to start when he's healthy, the role he was drafted No. 53 overall in April to fill.
Former Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters on draft night Allen was selected out of Georgia to be an immediate starting middle linebacker and defensive play-caller. Allen suffered an ankle injury last Thursday in practice, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo told reporters Tuesday.
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In an answer referencing rookie safety A.J. Haulcy’s improvements, Anarumo said that Allen, too, had shown progress in recent weeks after being a healthy scratch in Weeks 1 and 4 and playing just 11 defensive snaps over that time frame.
“C.J. was going to start this week before he had that injury,” Anarumo said. “I think they’re all putting their time in, and the more at bats they get, the better they’re going to be.”
This comes as the Colts have begun to get healthier at the position. Jaylon Carlies, the Colts’ starting outside linebacker to start the season, suffered an injury to his ribs during the team’s Week 4 game in London and missed the next two contests – helping usher in an uptick in Allen’s playing time (37 total defensive snaps in Weeks 5 and 6).
Sunday in Minneapolis, Allen and fellow rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher were inactive due to injuries – the latter suffered a groin injury in Week 6 against the Titans and missed the Wednesday and Friday practices, though he participated Thursday. The Colts elevated veteran practice squad signee Germaine Pratt to the active roster and he got 20 defensive snaps. Carlies played 23 snaps, with 18 going to dime linebacker Austin Ajiake – including snaps to start the game.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, the Colts’ starting middle linebacker and green dot-wearer – meaning he relays the defensive play calls from Anarumo to the rest of the unit – played 57 of 59 snaps, and though the Colts defensive coordinator said Tuesday the veteran’s role will shift slightly, Davis-Gaither will remain a starter through this transition.
Davis-Gaither was signed in free agency as a veteran presence to bolster a unit that was preparing to get younger with the loss of 2025 starters Zaire Franklin and Pratt. But when Allen struggled with a pair of injuries in training camp and was slowly ramped up afterward and digested Anarumo's defense more slowly than expected, Davis-Gaither transitioned from a potential starter on the outside to the middle linebacker spot he had rarely played in his six previous seasons in the NFL. In Week 2, due to disasters with safety Camryn Bynum relaying play calls from his safety spot, Davis-Gaither took over those responsibilities – because he was the only player capable of filling such a role after spending five years in Cincinnati playing under Anarumo’s defense to start his career.
When Allen returns, Davis-Gaither will shift to his more natural position on the outside, but the veteran will retain his green dot responsibilities.
“(C.J.) has the ability to play both (middle and outside), but we’re keeping him (in the middle) for now,” Anarumo said. “When C.J.’s on the field, Akeem adjusts to make sure C.J.’s comfortable in his spot.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts rookie LB CJ Allen will start once ankle injury heals; what it means to depth chart