WESTFIELD
Irving Fryar Jersey , Ind. (AP) — Jordan Wilkins figured the days of working in an understaffed backfield ended at rookie minicamp.
A spate of injuries proved him wrong.
When the Indianapolis Colts returned to practice Saturday, the running back took a quick glance around the field and suddenly realized only three other people were around — rookie Nyheim Hines, veteran Christine Michael and former NFL star Tom Rathman, who now serves as the Indianapolis Colts’ running backs coach.
Of course, it’s not an ideal work environment, but right now the Colts don’t have a choice.
“Rookie mini-camp, it happened real quick and we were struggling through that,” Wilkins said, recalling the last time he worked with such a small group of backs. “It kind of sucks that we’re back at that point. It is more of a workload, but I’m not worried about that.”
Instead, the fifth-round draft pick sees it as an opportunity to show the Colts they found a value pick and a potential workhorse.
He’s not the only trying to prove his worth.
Hines, a fourth-round pick, hopes to change the coaches’ perception after struggling in the preseason opener. Michael is trying to find a more stable home on his fifth team in six seasons and after missing all of last year with an offseason knee injury.
And, at the moment, it remains unclear whether help may be on the way.
How did the Colts find themselves in such a predicament?
Marlon Mack
Sony Michel Jersey , the hand-picked successor to Frank Gore, left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury and is listed as week to week. Backup Robert Turbin also left the game with an ankle injury and he, too, is considered week to week. Josh Ferguson, a backup each of the past two seasons, still hasn’t returned to practice since hurting his hamstring on the third day of training camp.
Reich said Ferguson could return this week.
“You don’t like just having three guys,” coach Frank Reich said when asked if Indy needs another body. “But we’ve got a couple of guys dinged, so we’ll have to see how things play out.”
Fortunately, Wilkins seems well-suited to carry a big workload.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, he became the fifth player in Ole Miss history to top the 1,000-yard mark with his breakout 2017 season. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, demonstrated an ability to catch passes out of the backfield and convinced the Colts to take him in the fifth round.
So far, he’s outperformed the expectations.
On Thursday, he rushed six times for 21 yards
Dontae Johnson Jersey , caught one pass for seven yards and sealed the 19-17 victory by spinning away from a Seattle defender for a 3-yard run on third-and-1. Reich called it a winning play Friday, shortly after announcing the injuries to Mack and Turbin.
Hines is a different kind of player. At 5-9, 198 pounds, he possesses sprinter speed and can line up in multiple spots.
Reich, who served as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator last year, envisions Hines playing the same kind of role as Darren Sproles and he has a similar resume.
At North Carolina State, Hines was both a receiver and punt returner and was called into emergency duty as a running back, too.
“My freshmen year I played receiver and we had some redshirt guys and literally all four running backs were hurt except for one, so I had to go play running back and there were two guys in the game,” Hines said. “That was a really interesting bowl game for us.”
Michael was solid in the Colts’ preseason opener and could start next Monday night against Baltimore.
But unless, general manager Chris Ballard makes a move or Ferguson gets healthy, these three backs will have to do the Colts’ heavy lifting.
“That’s the goal to be the starter, but that’s up to the coaches and it’s out of my control,” Wilkins said. “Whatever role I’m given, I’ll be excited about and will play to my highest ability.”
Notes: The Colts signed defensive end Ryan Delaire and released safety Shamarko Thomas
John Lynch Jersey , who was ejected from Thursday’s game for an illegal hit. … Andrew Luck did not participate in Saturday’s light workout — as planned. He is expected to return to the field Sunday. … Starting safeties Clayton Geathers and Malik Hooker took part in team drills Saturday when the Colts were not in pads. Both are coming off of knee surgery.
Clayton Richard says the San Diego Padres now have enough punch to make late-game comebacks.
That offense has the Padres playing like they can escape last place in the NL West.
Hunter Renfroe hit a go-ahead, two-run single in San Diego’s five-run seventh inning, Freddy Galvis had a three-run homer and went 5 for 5, and the Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on Friday night.
”I think we have the ability to add late at the plate and that’s huge,” Richard said, adding newcomers Galvis and Eric Hosmer ”add such professionalism. They’re not going to give in. That definitely has carried over to other players.”
The Padres, who have split the first two games of the four-game series, are trying to win their sixth straight series.
Richard (6-6) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in six innings. Luis Castillo closed the game with two scoreless innings.
Freddie Freeman’s 15th homer gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Jose Pirela hit a two-run homer for San Diego in the first.
Sam Freeman (1-3) gave up three runs in the seventh.
Before Renfroe’s single, the Padres were on the verge of wasting a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity for the second time in the game.
Pirela grounded into a double play in which pinch-runner Cory Spangenberg was forced out at the plate.
Renfroe then hit Freeman’s 1-2 pitch up the middle , driving in Travis Jankowski and Eric Hosmer.
Galvis added a three-run homer just beyond the reach of leaping centerfielder Ender Inciarte, off Peter Moylan.
”We walked too many guys in that inning,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker
Mark Duper Jersey , referring to passes issued by Sam Freeman and Moylan.
Galvis had a run-scoring single, giving him four RBIs, in the ninth. The five hits were a career high.
Brandon McCarthy allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Home plate umpire Joe West ejected Padres manager Andy Green in the fourth after arguing West’s changed call on an apparent strikeout by Ozzie Albies. West initially clinched his right fist as if to call Albies out. He then changed his mind, apparently thinking Albies tipped the ball – which was not caught by catcher Raffy Lopez before it hit the dirt.
Green argued and was headed back to the dugout when he was tossed by West. Green then turned back toward the plate and threw his cap in the general direction of West before engaging the umpire in a more spirited argument. First-base umpire Doug Eddings eventually stepped between Green and West and helped to point the manager back toward the dugout.
”I think I’ve said absolutely everything I want to say about umpires,” Green said.
It was the second straight game Green had issues with an umpire’s call. He was upset after a video review confirmed Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch in the Braves’ 4-2 win on Thursday night.
It was the Braves’ turn to complain in the ninth when a video review failed to overturn a safe call on Renfroe’s slide at second base. Umpires ruled shortstop Dansby Swanson failed to touch second base before throwing to first on Castillo’s grounder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: After throwing four hitless innings in a rehab start Thursday night for Class-A Lake Elsinore, LHP Joey Lucchesi (right hip strain) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday which will determine if he’s ready to come off the DL. Lucchesi, who has been out since May 15, could start on Tuesday or Wednesday against Oakland, or he could make another rehab start.
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, who left Saturday’s start with triceps tightness, felt good after playing catch. The team won’t make a decision about his next start until he throws off a mound. … OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (left knee sprain) ran the bases and took grounders and fly balls in left field. He will test the knee by running harder on Saturday.
HOT HITTER
Freddie Freeman’s homer gave him hits in 25 of his last 26 games. He leads the NL with his .342 batting average and 90 hits. He also ranks among the league leaders with his 15 homers and 49 RBIs. He has hit eight homers off left-handers.
FULL HOUSE
Attendance was 41,497, Atlanta’s fourth sellout of the season.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Jordan Lyles will make his eighth start of the season – his high mark since 10 starts with Colorado in 2015 – as the four-game series continues on Saturday.
Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb will look for his eighth win as he makes his second start of the season against the Padres. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 14-1 win at San Diego on June 5.
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