The Indianapolis Colts (0-1) kicked off the 2023 campaign with a 31-21 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 1.
While they fell short of pulling off an upset, the Colts showed plenty of fight and competitiveness until too many mistakes got in their way late in the fourth quarter.
Buy Colts TicketsWhen taking stock of a player’s performance, it’s best to be fluid. A player’s stock will fall and rise throughout the season so none of this is set in stone. However, it is important to take note of the narratives and storylines taking place as the campaign progresses.
A player’s stock can be impacted by factors such as their performance or the type of snaps they receive during the games.
Here’s a look at the stock report for the Colts following the Week 1 loss:
Stock Up: QB Anthony Richardson
The rookie looked pretty solid in his debut. He wasn’t without a handful of mistakes, specifically the fourth-quarter interception he threw, but he didn’t look overwhelmed in the slightest. In fact, he made a bit of history in his debut. The offense is somewhat limited, especially with the half-field reads to ensure they are maximizing his strengths. All in all, it was an impressive debut and should bring optimism as he continues his development.
Stock Down: RB Deon Jackson
The entire rushing attack for the Colts was nothing short of ghastly. The running backs took 16 carries for 25 yards. Jackson got the bulk of the work, taking 13 carries for 14 rushing yards. Yep, you read that correctly. Some of it had to do with the lack of push given from the offensive line, but Jackson didn’t help himself in many cases. He also lost two fumbles—one of which was on fourth down and he was short of the sticks anyway. The Colts said they were going to ride the hot hand, but the backfield was ice cold in the opener.
Stock Up: LT Bernhard Raimann
The second-year left tackle got his season off to a strong start. Though he was middling as a run blocker, Raimann allowed just one pressure on 49 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. It was an encouraging outing for the 2021 third-round pick, who hopes to be on his way toward a breakout campaign.
Stock Down: RG Will Fries
It wasn’t a disaster of a game from Fries, but it also didn’t quell any concerns about the right guard position moving forward. Fries was credited with allowing three total pressures (one quarterback hit) on 49 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He also struggled to get consistent push in the run game.
Stock Up: LB Shaquille Leonard
The Maniac was impressive in his return. He looked relatively fluid in his movements and while he still has a lot of work ahead, the fact that he played on 86% of the defensive snaps signals he’s close to being an every-down player in Gus Bradley’s defense.
Stock Down: WR Alec Pierce
This is one of those cases where a player’s stock is likely to rise again quickly, but we also have to acknowledge a poor performance. Pierce brought in just three targets and recorded one reception for five yards. He also had a false start on a third-and-six, which resulted in pushing the Colts back and failing to convert on the next two plays. Pierce still has plenty of optimism ahead, but this was a rough outing.
Stock Up: WR Josh Downs
Though the rookie is clearly third on the depth chart behind Michael Pittman Jr. and the aforementioned Pierce, the target distribution may say otherwise. Only Pittman Jr. (11) had more targets than Downs (seven) during the season opener. The connection with Richardson is tangible, and it’s only likely to grow as they both develop.
