Colts GM Chris Ballard Hopes to Activate Rookie Safety Julian Blackmon in 2-3 Weeks

According to Sirius XM NFL Radio Host Alex Marvez, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that his team hopes to activate 2020 3rd round rookie safety Julian Blackmon in 2-3 weeks—who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered late last season:

The Colts placed Blackmon on the active/non-football injury list in late July, but that might not be for too much longer.

It coincides with Ballard’s earlier statement following this April’s NFL Draft and the selection of Blackmon, when he stated: “He’s got the ACL injury, we know that he won’t be ready probably until late August, early September, which means that he might not even really help us until October.”

At 6’0”, 187 pounds, Blackmon recorded 60 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles in 14 starts for Utah during 2019—earning 2nd-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-Pac 12 honors at safety.

He was also a 2x 2nd-Team All-Pac 12 member at cornerback (2017-18).

The hybrid safety has been praised for his overall versatility, tackling, and ball skills and should eventually become a valuable addition to the Colts secondary:

“Look, he is a rangy, fast, athletic safety that can play corner, and he can play in the nickel. He has a lot of value in our defense and can play a bunch of multiple spots,” Ballard said via Colts.com. “This is his first year playing safety, and we liked him at corner too, so we feel lucky to get him. He is a talented young man.”

As it stands, it appears that Blackmon’s rehabilitation is progressing, and he’s currently on schedule in his recovery—from the significant knee injury he suffered in last year’s Pac-12 Championship Game.

It’s encouraging news for the Colts secondary, as Blackmon could be a prominent ‘chess piece’ in their secondary with his versatility—even as a rookie in 2020.