Colts Week 9 Snap Counts vs. Texans

The Indianapolis Colts were able to stop their three-game skid on Sunday by defeating AFC South division rival Houston Texans, 20-14. After the Texans lost quarterback Deshaun Watson for the year last week, it changed how this game could turn out immediately. The Colts capitalized on that. Let’s take a look at how many snaps each Colts player participated in on Sunday.

NOTES:

• For each of the last two weeks, rookie running back Marlon Mack had seen more snaps than Frank Gore. However, that changed this week, with Gore seeing 13 more than Mack. This was odd considering the Colts could get nothing going between the tackles and Mack is an outside playmaker.
• With wide receiver Chester Rogers being back for a few weeks now from a hamstring injury and Kamar Aiken being a non-factor in the Colts’ passing game all year, AND dropping three passes last week, I wanted to see if Rogers would start to encroach on Aiken’s snaps. After all, Rogers was the no-doubt WR3 this spring and summer before suffering the hamstring injury. There does not appear to be any change in their roles, as Aiken saw 34 more snaps than Rogers.
• It was somewhat surprising that starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo was able to play on Sunday. He sat out most of practice last week with a knee ailment and was reportedly carted off of the practice field on Friday. For what it’s worth, it probably wasn’t as bad as it sounded. He was likely taken away inside a golf cart and not on the back of one of those flat-bed carts that they use in games. Still, Castonzo started and played all offensive snaps. Per Pro Football Focus, he didn’t even allow a pressure all game.
• Rookie offensive lineman Kyle Kalis came in and replaced Le’Raven Clark at right guard last week, and Kalis got the start again today.
• Overall, 16 players saw offensive snaps.

NOTES:

• I wanted to see if rookie inside linebacker Anthony Walker would finally start to get some reps on defense now that he’s been able to stay healthy for consecutive weeks. He didn’t. Walker is still stuck on special teams, not able to rotate in behind Jon Bostic and Antonio Morrison with Jeremiah George. Walker did get 17 snaps on special teams, however, which has been his consistent role.
• With Vontae Davis being a curious late scratch on Saturday, Pierre Desir got the start at right cornerback. Desir played all 71 defensive snaps and actually did quite well. He gave up a long touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins but his coverage could not have been any better. He even fought to get the ball away throughout the catch, but Hopkins has arguably the strongest hands in the game.
• Darius Butler got the start at free safety, but T.J. Green did rotate in on occasion, typically to give the Colts more beef in the box on running situations. This is to continue to be expected, at least until Clayton Geathers returns to the field.
• Overall, 18 players saw defensive snaps.

*Snap counts via NFL official game book.