Is time running out for the Colts to sign a safety?

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The Indianapolis Colts are 33 days away from week one of the regular season. Indianapolis only has four training camp practices left and haven’t provided any indication as to whom the second starting safety is through eight practices. Time is running out.

On Monday the Tennessee Titans added veteran safety Quandre Diggs and Jacksonville signing veteran Adrian Amos earlier Tuesday afternoon. Julian Blackmon has practiced at both safety positions during camp. Last year was his best statistical season of his career in his first year as the team’s strong safety. The available free safeties are:

• Cody Davis (35)
• Tashaun Gipson Sr. (33) – 1x Pro-Bowler (’14)
• Adrian Phillips (32) – First Team All-Pro (’18) & 1x Pro-Bowler (’18)
• Justin Simmons (30) – 4x Second Team All-Pro (’19, ’21, ’22, ’23), 2x Pro Bowler (’20 & ’23), and NFL Interceptions Co-Leader (’22)

If Gus Bradley wanted to move Blackmon back to free safety, then these are the available strong safeties:

• Micah Hyde (33) – 2x Second Team All-Pro (’17 & ’21), 1x Pro-Bowler (’17)
• Duron Harmon (33) – 3x Super Bowl Champion
• Keanu Neal (29) – 1x Pro-Bowler (’17)
• Ryan Neal (28)

Moving Blackmon back to free safety doesn’t seem like the best option since he set career highs in tackles, interceptions, and passes deflected.

“It’s a good group. We’re battling back there. Julian (Blackmon) has done a hell of a job right there, obviously a staple for us back there. Right now, Nick Cross, Ronnie Harrison, Rodney Thomas, Trevor Denbow, we’re rotating those guys right now and we’re gonna find out at the end of this camp who’s going to be the guy back there.” Shane Steichen on Query & Company Monday afternoon on the safety position.

Out of the free safety names that are available, there have been fans clamoring for Chris Ballard to sign Justin Simmons. The former 2016 third-round pick has spent his entire eight year career with the Denver Broncos. He was released in order to free cap space, but hasn’t landed anywhere yet.

With Indianapolis only having four practices left, would he have enough time to get up to speed to be ready for week one?

“They could definitely get him going. They have enough time, they still have preseason games, but even if they didn’t, I don’t think that’s the most important thing. There’s going to be two factors. What kind of shape is he in, whoever the player is. If it’s someone coming off the street, like Simmons, he needs to be in shape. You would presume that someone like him would understand the circumstances. Second thing is, you’ve gotta get him up to speed with the terminology. That’s going to be the hard part. It’s doable, but it is a challenge.” ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder on Query & Company Tuesday afternoon.

Holder would go on to say that he does believe that if the Colts do bring in a safety, then that player would be a free safety.

If the Colts have felt inclined to rotate a converted linebacker, Ronnie Harrison Jr., a 2022 undrafted free agent, Trevor Denbow, and a former third-round pick that has only started four games in two years, Nick Cross, then it should say something. It says that they’re still searching for a guy to take that position by the reigns.

Cross did intercept Anthony Richardson in Monday’s practice, but hasn’t flashed much outside of that. He was listed as the starting free safety in the first unofficial depth chart for the Colts .

Sunday’s pre-season opener against the Denver Broncos could be the final evaluation for the free safeties. If the coaching staff doesn’t like what they saw, then it could mean they finally make a move to bring in the starting safety for the 2024 season.

To listen to Jake Query and Jimmy Cook’s conversation with Shane Steichen and Stephen Holder , download the podcasts containing the conversations below! You can always listen to the Query & Company from 12pm-3pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan. You can also watch and interact with the show by going to the 107.5 The Fan YouTube Channel .

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