Jelani Woods is finally back in action for the Colts

The big man is back on the field after a lost 2023 season.

The Indianapolis Colts are glad to see Jelani Woods back on the field with the team after the big man missed all of last year with a hamstring injury. With his impressive size and athletic ability, he was an anticipated part of the young offense. Fans eagerly awaited watching him catch passes from Anthony Richardson, but that ultimately never came to fruition as he didn’t take the field for a single snap. The Colts are hoping to get out of him this year what they missed out on last season.

Woods started his second year on the shelf with a nagging injury that just never seemed to heal. Soft tissue injuries can be fickle, and every time he would make progress, he would reaggravate it. Those continued setbacks ended up costing him his entire sophomore campaign. Joel Erickson of the IndyStar reported that coach Shane Steichen is excited for his return.

“Finally getting to see him,” Steichen said. “I mean, I saw him a little bit in training camp, he got the injury, but to see how long he is and how he can run, vertical threat, different things you can do with him. It’s good to have him out there.”

Like Steichen said, he got to see him some last year, but this will be the first type of extended look he will get. For the majority of the year, the offense was very impressive. What Steichen was able to do without Woods, Richardson, and half a season of Jonathan Taylor was remarkable. Knocking on wood (no pun intended), with those three healthy, what could the offense look like in 2024?

Jelani Woods certainly increases the talent in the tight end room and the offense in general. His big frame will be an excellent option in the redzone and serve as a nice safety value for Richardson. It was frustrating to watch him be unable to return to the field last year. Here’s hoping his second year of action sees him take a leap and become another weapon that teams have to worry about taking away. If he can stay healthy, I think Woods could have a very solid year and bring a lot to the team.