Sunday's preseason opener was a big day for the Indianapolis Colts, especially for cornerback Dallis Flowers, who made his much-anticipated return to the field. It had been quite a while since Flowers last saw game action—specifically, all the way back in Week 4 of the previous season, when he suffered a significant Achilles injury. The game marked his first chance to get back into the rhythm of live play, and as expected, there was a bit of rust that came with his return.
Flowers’ comeback wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley wasn’t exactly shocked by this, though. He had previously pointed out during OTAs that Flowers still needed to fine-tune the final few percent of his game. "Although we said in OTAs that last 5 percent, or the last 10 percent is what he needs to work on," Bradley mentioned on Tuesday. "So we kind of anticipated that there would be some spots where he was just getting acclimated to the speed of the game again." In other words, the Colts knew it would take some time for Flowers to shake off the cobwebs.
With JuJu Brents out for the game, Flowers had the chance to step up and start at cornerback, lined up opposite Jaylon Jones. This spot was particularly significant because Flowers and Jones are in a heated competition for the cornerback position. Throughout the game, Flowers was on the field for a total of 38 snaps. Despite his effort, his performance had its ups and downs—he managed to rack up five tackles, but also faced a bit of a challenge in coverage.
When it came to coverage, Flowers was targeted six times. He allowed four completions, with an average of 13.5 yards per catch. Unfortunately, Flowers didn’t manage to record any pass breakups, and he also had two penalties against him. These numbers weren’t exactly what Flowers or the coaching staff had hoped for.
"I know for him he didn't play as good as he wanted to," Bradley admitted. "But we kind of anticipated there might be some different looks that he might have to get accustomed to just coming back off this injury. So I think that's a good start for him. We know where he's at. He knows where he's at and the progress he has to make." Bradley’s perspective is that despite the rough start, this game was a crucial step in Flowers’ journey back to top form. It's clear that Flowers has a path to improvement, and this game was part of the learning curve.
On the other side of the field, Jaylon Jones had a bit of a mixed performance as well. He allowed an early 14-yard completion but came back strong by breaking up a subsequent pass when targeted again. Jones' ability to rebound and make plays under pressure seems to have solidified his position even further as a leading candidate for the starting cornerback role.
Looking ahead, Flowers has some work to do if he wants to challenge Jones for that spot. The Colts have a busy few days coming up with two joint practices and another preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. This period will be crucial for Flowers to showcase his abilities and make a significant push for the position.
In summary, the preseason opener for Flowers was a mixed bag. There were signs of promise, but also clear areas needing improvement. With the competition heating up, Flowers’ performance in the upcoming practices and games will be pivotal in determining his future role with the team. For now, it’s a matter of shaking off the rust, getting back up to speed, and proving that he’s ready to reclaim his spot in the Colts’ defensive lineup.
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