Just as Justin Walley’s NFL journey was starting to take off, it came to a sudden stop.
Colts coach Shane Steichen announced Walley tore his ACL in Thursday’s preseason game against the Ravens, which means his season’s over before it really started. It’s a tough hit for the rookie, especially since he was starting to find his groove in camp.
Walley, who was picked in the third round out of Minnesota, was beginning to get noticed in Indy’s young defense. The coaches liked what they saw — his athleticism and instincts — and he’d worked his way into first-team reps in practice.
It really looked like this was going to be his breakout year.
At Minnesota, Walley was one of the most reliable guys in the Big Ten’s secondary. He played all four years under coach P.J. Fleck got better every season.
In his senior year, Walley had 42 tackles, two picks (one he ran back for a touchdown), and a sack. He helped the Gophers finish 7-5. Coaches always said he worked hard, led the team, and handled the best receivers well.
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Even with the injury, the Colts still believe in him. He showed he’s smart, competitive, and knows the game. They think he’ll do what it takes to get through rehab and come back stronger. While he’s out, he’ll still be part of the team.
Sure, this season’s gone, but judging by what he did in college — and what we saw early with the Colts — it’s just a matter of time before he’s back out there making plays.