INDIANAPOLIS – Within the hours after s star receiver e went down with a reaggravation of his surgically-repaired heel harm, common supervisor Chris Ballard appeared to have a plan.
n was meant to be a band-aid. At 15.0 yards per catch throughout seven years, 106 NFL video games and almost 300 receptions, the ex-Giants receiver gave the impression to be the downfield possibility the passing sport wanted. That he arrived in Indianapolis with greater than 5 years of expertise catching passes from s beginning quarterback s was merely a plus.
Two weeks since he was signed, Slayton has participated in six practices (plus a walk-through in London) however r.
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Slayton instructed IndyStar on Wednesday that spending his first two weeks as a Colt on the sidelines wasn’t what he envisioned. It additionally, he mentioned, was the appropriate name.
“Once I signed, I felt like I used to be able to go and I’d be capable of take part the primary week I signed right here,” Slayton mentioned. “However on the similar time, clearly, I received into observe that week, and (coach Shane Steichen) and everyone else felt like, ‘Hey, let’s provide you with extra time.'
“And I don’t disagree with that synopsis. On the finish of the day, it’s been a superb factor for me to have this further time to acclimate.”
The Giants, who drafted Slayton within the fifth spherical in 2019 – 4 rounds after Jones – launched the seven-year vet on Sept. 7, the Monday of Week 1 of the season. Slayton mentioned he continued figuring out, hoping the cellphone would ring. It did when Pierce went down within the first quarter of Sunday Night time Soccer on Sept. 20.
Lower than 48 hours later, Slayton was in Indianapolis sitting with vast receivers coach e.
Health, although, was his first hurdle.
“I used to be at residence and I used to be coaching, however it’s not fairly the identical as being on the sphere and having dwell our bodies,” Slayton mentioned. “I’ve simply been engaged on getting my physique in a spot the place I’ll be capable of carry out at my finest.”
Does he imagine he’s there but?
“Positively, I really feel like I’m. I really feel like I’m able to go at this level,” he mentioned. “I really feel like I can go on the market and play good soccer and attempt to assist this group win.”
Profitable is one thing the Colts have, in reality, managed to do with out Slayton twice since he arrived, although one may argue it’s been regardless of the offense. s – all of them on performs the place pocket stress was a central issue.
All 5 turnovers, Jones and Steichen agree, sprout from the quarterback’s poor choices or carelessness, however there’s purpose to assume the addition a field-stretching receiver might make an influence. Slayton ought to, theoretically, transfer the safeties farther away from the road of scrimmage and clear room over the center Tyler Warren, Josh Downs and Keenan Allen.
The urgency for a participant like Slayton to see the sphere is evident however the 29-year-old admitted he wasn’t prepared.
“It’s actually simply terminology. Each (group) kinda has the identical stuff however individuals name it totally different names and the toughest half, actually is situational,” he mentioned. “You get within the sport and when you gave me simply base calls, I’d in all probability be okay.
“However we’d get right into a state of affairs the place we’re in hurry-up, or we is perhaps in a two-minute drill. That’s the sort of stuff that takes a bit of longer to determine. As soon as I received out on the observe discipline, I used to be like, ‘A bit of bit of additional time wouldn’t harm.'”
n and n cowl the Colts all season. Get extra protection on V and with the r.
This text initially appeared on Indianapolis Star: w
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