INDIANAPOLIS – When it comes to the long-term future of the Colts offense, so much of its core is already in place.
Names like Luck, Hilton, Castonzo, Allen, Kelly don't have their contracts coming up anytime soon.
One name that could/should be added to that list in the next year is Jack Mewhort.
The 2017 season is Mewhort's fourth in the NFL. It's also the final on the rookie deal he signed after being taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
New GM Chris Ballard has already mentioned Mewhort's name among the in-stone trio that occupies the left tackle (Castonzo), left guard (Mewhort) and center (Kelly) positions.
Triceps and knee injuries for Mewhort in 2016 limited him to just 10 games.
When Mewhort went down for three games midway through the season, it came at a time he was playing arguably the best football of his career.
"I think the biggest thing with Jack is that he has improved and worked on his technique and that's allowed him to play more physical and play faster," offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said earlier this past season. "Again, that's something young guys a lot of times is an adjustment coming to this level and playing at this level and being able to be consistent with their techniques. Jack has been able to do that and his technique has improved gradually and consistently to where he can play fast and he can play more physical because of it.
"Jack was playing really, really good football and consistent football, the best that he's played."
Mewhort's third NFL season ended on Dec. 11 when he got rolled up on a screen pass touchdown to Frank Gore.
A chondral defect, not considered an extremely serious knee injury, sent Mewhort to IR with three weeks to go in the season.
Early off-season rehab is on Mewhort's mind as he enters a contract year in 2017.
Mewhort's name isn't a major priority on Ballard's immediate to-do list, but it is something to watch in the next year.
As the Colts try to see if Joe Haeg and Le'Raven Clark are the answers on the right side of the line, the left side isn't too much of a concern in Indianapolis.
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