INDIANAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 The Indianapolis Colts drafted tight end Tyler Warren to be a playmaker.<\/p>\n
He needed one game to prove he was worthy of the No. 14 overall pick.<\/p>\n
Warren caught seven passes for 76 yards, rushed for a first down and nearly made his first touchdown catch in Indy’s first season-opening victory in a dozen years, a 33-8 rout of Miami<\/a> on Sunday. His reception total was tied for second since 1970 among NFL tight ends making their first career start, and he was second in franchise history in receiving yards by a rookie tight end in his debut.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It wasn’t just the numbers that turned heads.<\/p>\n “He adds a lot,\u201d new starting quarterback Daniel Jones said. \u201cHe\u2019s a dangerous guy with the ball in his hands. He\u2019s going to make extra yards. He\u2019s physical. He\u2019s going to go up and make the tough catch.”<\/p>\n The Colts (1-0) saw those traits on Warren’s college tape from Penn State long before they drafted him, and again when he excelled during training camp.<\/p>\n On Sunday, Warren showed how he can exploit the middle of the field, open up passing lanes for others, convert short-yardage plays into first downs, or maybe even throw a pass as he did in college and as a prep star in Virginia.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n While it was only one game, Warren looked like he could become Indy’s most effective tight end since two-time Pro Bowler Jack Doyle retired after the 2021 season. Warren caught Jones’ first pass<\/a> for 14 yards and finished the first half with 57 yards \u2014 a franchise record for a rookie tight end.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s impressive,\u201d coach Shane Steichen said. \u201cI thought the first play, hitting him down the boundary, then that third down there with about six minutes left making a guy miss, and then running a guy over, or two guys over, whatever he did, just the physicality. He\u2019s an old-school, throwback freakin\u2019 baller.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s working<\/p>\n Jones. Indy’s eighth opening-day starter in nine years made quick decisions, accurate throws and scored twice on 1-yard runs,<\/a> posting a 115.9 quarterback rating. He helped end Indy’s opening-day winless streak and if he continues playing this way, the Colts’ four-year playoff drought could be over, too.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n What needs help<\/p>\n Finishing drives. On a day the Colts seemed to do all the right things, they settled for 24, 35 and 28-yard field goals. Though it didn’t hurt the Colts in Sunday’s dominant performance, Indy must be more successful scoring red-zone touchdowns in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Stock up<\/p>\n S Cam Bynum and CB Xavien Howard. They were signed in the offseason to upgrade the secondary, Indy’s biggest hole in 2024. And both delivered right away. Bynum had his first interception<\/a> with the Colts and nearly had a second, while Howard \u2014 who was out of the league last season \u2014 recovered a fumble against his former team.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Stock down<\/p>\n Anthony Richardson. If Jones stays healthy and continues to play so efficiently, Richardson \u2014 the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft \u2014 may not get a chance to reclaim his starting job this season.<\/p>\n Injuries<\/p>\n RB Jonathan Taylor was used sparingly in the second half, but Steichen said after the game that Taylor was \u201cgood.\u201d CB Jaylon Jones did not return after re-injuring his left hamstring late in the first half. Steichen said CB Charvarius Ward entered the concussion protocol after having symptoms Monday.<\/p>\n Key number<\/p>\n 7 \u2014 The Colts opened the season by scoring on all seven possessions, becoming the first NFL team since at least 1978 to score every time it had the ball.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Next steps<\/p>\n The Colts haven’t been 2-0 since 2009, when they last reached the Super Bowl. Nobody is comparing this team to that one yet, but Indy has a chance at the same record through Week 2. The Colts host Denver on Sunday.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n