RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesWESTFIELD — The Colts did not have to wait long to get their prized rookie linebacker back in the mix.
Indianapolis removed CJ Allen from the physically unable to perform, or PUP, list Friday, clearing the rookie to begin practicing with the rest of the team after missing only the first two days of training camp.
Allen has been dealing with a calf injury that he suffered while preparing for the season.
The Colts had been clear early in the week that the rookie was not expected to miss significant time.
“We don't think it's going to be long,” Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said on reporting day. “More being, taking some precautions here. We don't want it just to linger.”
Allen, the team’s second-round pick and the first Colts pick of the 2026 NFL Draft — Indianapolis traded its first-rounder to the Jets to get Sauce Gardner — is expected to start for the Colts in the middle this season, replacing veteran middle linebacker Zaire Franklin in an effort to get younger and faster on defense.
A rangy, speedy player out of Georgia, Allen will likely wear the green dot that signifies which defender gets the calls from Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and that means the rookie needs as much time as possible on the field in training camp.
Anarumo downplayed the impact of Allen’s injury absence after Thursday’s practice.
“Another guy that never left this building all summer,” Anarumo said. “Works his butt off, both physically and mentally. So, he's around. He sees what's going on.”
But it turns out Allen wasn’t going to miss much time at all. With Allen back on the field and practicing, wide receiver Alec Pierce is the only Colt who remains on the PUP list as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery. Veteran linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither missed Thursday’s practice with an undisclosed injury. If Davis-Gaither is forced to miss some time now, fourth-round rookie Bryce Boettcher may have a chance to make an early impression as the Colts try to figure out which two linebackers will start.
“If somebody's down, that's just an opportunity for somebody else to step up and see where we're at,” Anarumo said.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts update injury status of rookie LB CJ Allen
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