Colts' Offensive Depth Deeper Than Previously Thought

In a game that was a must-win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, three reserve playmakers stepped up and helped the Indianapolis Colts maintain playoff positioning.

Author:
Drake Wally
Publish date:
Dec 19, 2023 2:30 PM EST

In this story:

Indianapolis Colts

The old saying in football is “next man up.” There will always be injuries in the NFL, and those injuries don’t discriminate against players or methods. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Indianapolis Colts had to face this reality.

Indy cruised to a dominant, 30-13 victory over the Steelers, marking Indy’s first victory over Mike Tomlin’s troops in eight contests dating back to 2008.

However, it was indeed through a team effort and all positions playing the best ball they could, especially once running back Zack Moss (arm) and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) left the game with injuries, that helped catapult the Colts to a victory.

A trio of players who stood out in the void of the stars was wide receiver D.J. Montgomery and running backs Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson. They would step squarely into larger roles, making the most of their opportunities.

Wide Receiver D.J. Montgomery

Montgomery was promoted to the active roster just days before the contest against the Steelers. Many figured he'd be on special teams, but instead, he saw playing time with veteran pass-catcher Isaiah McKenzie being a healthy scratch.

However, Montgomery’s involvement sped up quickly when Pittman was ruled out for the rest of the game. While Montgomery only grabbed 2 catches for 48 yards, they were both massive plays, and one resulted in a score, giving the Colts the lead before halftime.

More importantly, Montgomery caught his first-career touchdown after dropping a would-be score just one drive before. Montgomery showed incredible mental fortitude in a huge moment. Along with receiving abilities, he was also valuable as a blocker, helping to open up downfield runs.

Look for Montgomery to potentially see more snaps, even with Pittman in the lineup and healthy.

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Running Back Tyler Goodson

Similar to Montgomery, running back Goodson was elevated to the active roster only a day or two before the big contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. While Goodson had limited exposure in Weeks 13 and 14 (Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals), this would be his career-best performance.

Goodson filled in, along with Sermon, in place of the injured Moss, and he did it well. Goodson carried the ball 11 times for 69 yards (6.3 avg.) and a long of 31 yards. He also grabbed 2 catches for 10 yards, helping quarterback Gardner Minshew in the check down.

If Jonathan Taylor continues to miss time while recovering from thumb surgery then Goodson could have a continued featured role with Sermon. Even if Moss returns, there’s still a shot that Goodson sees snaps, given his performance.

Running Back Trey Sermon

One of the biggest knocks on the former third-round NFL draft selection was issues with ball security. He was originally taken by the San Francisco 49ers but only saw 43 attempts for 186 yards and a score in his first two years (Played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022).

After originally being on the Colts practice squad, Sermon was elevated to the active roster in late September.

When the Colts initially had Sermon on the depth chart, he was considered a third-string back. Or, with Taylor out, a distant backup to Moss. However, Sermon led the charge against the Steelers on the ground attack in relief of Moss with 17 carries for 88 yards and a healthy 5.2 yards per carry. It can be argued it’s the best game of Sermon’s three-year NFL career.

Sermon knows Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense well from his time as an Eagles running back, so look for him to do whatever he can to build off of this great showing to get more field time.

Outlook

Yes, the Colts' offensive line played great against the Steelers. Yes, Pittsburgh’s run defense isn’t top-notch. However, the Colts were without their superstar receiver and bell-cow back, the one-two punch for this offense, making them one-dimensional on paper.

However, Steichen knew both Sermon and Goodson’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as Montgomery’s. This knowledge helped maximize their talents and propel them all three to career performances.

While the Colts want both Pittman and Moss to return healthy for the push for a playoff spot, they also can rest easy knowing they have players willing to fight and win on their offensive depth chart to rely on when needed.

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