INDIANAPOLIS -- Nate Irving got a significant amount of snaps with the first unit at inside linebacker during the preseason for the Indianapolis Colts.
And now here the Colts sit, just days away from their Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions, looking for a new starting linebacker after releasing Irving over the weekend.
“It was a tough call,” coach Chuck Pagano said.
You can also say it was somewhat of a surprising call when you consider the Colts didn’t re-sign Jerrell Freeman during the offseason and the amount of time Irving spent working with the starters. But it came down to having versatility at inside linebacker, and releasing Irving also proved there really wasn't that much separation among the group.
“It was a good football player that we lost, but when it comes down to it, it not only involves just defense, you have to have special-teams value and have to be able to play four core teams and be productive,” Pagano said. “All those guys at that position, obviously D’Qwell (Jackson), going into year 11 is the one guy that we don’t ask him and rightfully so, but everybody else has to participate. You have to look at everything, the whole body of work and make some tough calls. That’s kind of where we are at with that.”
Josh McNary, Edwin Jackson and rookie Antonio Morrison all are candidates to start at inside linebacker. All three players also can contribute on special teams. Sio Moore also will be in the mix once he returns from his hamstring injury.
Pagano didn’t say who will start, but he did speak glowingly about Morrison, their fourth-round pick out of Florida. McNary may have the inside track starting against the Lions, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Morrison ends up as the starter at some point.
“This is a football player, he is tough, rugged, one of the brightest guys on that side of the football,” Pagano said. “You would never know if you listened to him communicate in the building and on the sideline and at practice that this guy is a first-year player -- he’s a rookie. He seems like he’s been here four, five or six years the way he is. He has all the Colt traits that you want, he is a really good football player and he’s tough and nasty and we love guys that run and hit.”
