INDIANAPOLIS — It's time for the Week 17 version of the 2019 Colts Rookie Watch, where we take a look at the stats and highlights to track the progress of each rookie on the Indianapolis Colts' roster.
So, without further ado, here we go (snaps by position provided by Pro Football Focus):
» Ben Banogu , defensive end: Banogu, the Colts' second-round (49th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, logged 30 total snaps — 22 on defense and eight on special teams — in last Sunday's Week 16 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Banogu has played 278 total snaps so far, including 257 on defense and 21 on special teams, and in 15 games has 11 total tackles (three for a loss) with 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and one pass defensed, while his one forced fumble ranks tied for eighth among all NFL rookies.
» Ashton Dulin , wide receiver: Dulin, who was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in May, played in his 12th game of the season Week 16 against the Panthers, logging 20 total snaps, including six on offense and 14 on special teams. He's played 246 snaps in all, including 85 on offense (48 lined up out wide, and 37 lined up in the slot), as well as 161 on special teams; he has two receptions for 17 yards, while his seven special teams tackles is tied for first on the team with fellow rookie Bobby Okereke.
» Chase McLaughlin , kicker: McLaughlin had a strong performance last Sunday in his third game with the Colts, hitting all six of his kicks — including a 35-yard field goal and five extra points — in Indy's Week 16 victory over the Panthers. In all with the Colts, McLaughlin has connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts and all nine of his extra-point tries; for the year, he's hit 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) of his field goals and is tied for the league lead in extra-point conversion rate by hitting all 24 of those attempts with the Colts, Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.
» Bobby Okereke , linebacker: Okereke, the Colts' third-round (89th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, had a career-best nine tackles — all solo stops — last Sunday against the Panthers, while also logging a special teams tackle; he played 51 snaps in all, including 45 on defense and six on special teams. On the season, Okereke has 57 total tackles (two for a loss) with one sack, one quarterback hit and two passes defensed, while his two forced fumbles rank tied for fourth among all NFL rookies, and his one fumble recovery also ranks tied for fourth among rookies. Okereke, who is also tied for the team lead with fellow rookie Ashton Dulin in special teams tackles with seven, has played 609 snaps in all, including 451 on defense and 158 on special teams.
» E.J. Speed , linebacker: Speed, the Colts' fifth-round (164th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, played in his 11th game of the season last Sunday against the Panthers, logging 14 special teams snaps in all, including four snaps on the punt return unit that would produce a team-record two return touchdowns by Nyheim Hines. On the season, Speed has six total tackles (one for a loss) and one special teams stop; he's played 171 snaps in all, including 33 on defense and 138 on special teams.
» Marvell Tell III , cornerback: Tell III, the Colts' fifth-round (144th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, played in his 12th game of the season last Sunday against the Panthers, logging 20 total snaps, including three on defense and 17 on special teams; he, too, was on the punt return unit that produced two Nyheim Hines return touchdowns. Tell III has 21 tackles, five passes defensed and two special teams stops on the season, while his one forced fumble ranks tied for eighth among all NFL rookies. He's played 422 total snaps on the year, including 243 on defense and 179 on special teams.
» Khari Willis , safety: Willis, the Colts' fourth-round (109th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, earned his ninth start of the season — and sixth straight — last Sunday against the Panthers; he 28 snaps in all, including a season-high 22 lined up at slot corner, and logged three tackles before suffering a burner and not returning. For the year, Willis has played 678 total snaps (224 at safety, 205 in the box, 98 in the slot, 78 along the defensive line and 15 out wide; and 58 on special teams) and ranks tied for seventh among all NFL rookies in total tackles (71) and sixth in solo stops (53), while his five quarterback hurries ranks tied for ninth among all NFL safeties, according to Pro Football Focus; Willis also has two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed.
» Rock Ya-Sin , cornerback: Ya-Sin, the Colts' second-round (34th-overall) selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, earned his 12th start of the season last Sunday against the Panthers, finishing with four tackles and one pass defensed; he played 82 snaps in all, including 70 on defense and 12 on special teams. Ya-Sin, who has logged a Colts rookie-high 933 total snaps on the year — 782 on defense and 151 on special teams — ranks tied for seventh in the NFL among rookies in solo tackles (51), tied for eighth among rookies in interceptions (1) and tied for fourth among rookies in fumble recoveries (1); he has 59 total tackles on the year, including two for a loss, to go along with five passes defensed and one special teams stop.
