E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Wed 11/22/23 2:29 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed is expected to take over as the Colts' starting weakside linebacker after the team waived Shaquille Leonard on Tuesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Indianapolis cut Leonard in a somewhat surprising move Tuesday, leaving a large gap in their front seven for the remainder of the season. Speed was already on track for a career-best campaign in the tackle department with 41 total so far, and his projected uptick in playing time could put him on the IDP radar for the rest of 2023.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Mon 9/18/23 4:05 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed had six tackles, a sack and two tackles for a loss in Sunday's win at Houston.
EDGE Analysis
Speed works as the team's strong-side linebacker but comes off the field when the team played a nickelback. He played on 45 of the defense's 84 snaps. He also gets work on special teams with 23 snaps.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Mon 9/11/23 10:51 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed had five total tackles and a tackle for a loss in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.
EDGE Analysis
Speed worked as the team's strong-side linebacker but came off the field when the team played a nickelback. He played on 29 of the defense's 70 snaps but was very effective with two stops and allowed only one reception for no yards on the only pass targeted at him. He's also a key member of the special teams where he played 25 snaps.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Wed 9/6/23 4:10 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed (concussion) didn't appear on the Colts' first Week 1 injury report released Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
A week and a half after entering the NFL's concussion protocol, Speed appears to have gained full clearance, meaning he should be ready to play Sunday against the Jaguars. He's appeared in 17 games in both of the past two seasons and recorded a career-high 63 tackles in 2022.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Wed 8/30/23 4:17 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed (concussion) was at practice in a red noncontact jersey Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Coach Shane Steichen revealed Saturday that Speed was in the concussion protocol, but it was encouraging to see the linebacker return to the practice field Wednesday. He'll have a week and a half to get back to full strength before the Colts' regular-season opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 10.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Sat 8/26/23 3:29 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Colts coach Shane Steichen said Saturday that the team has placed Speed in the concussion protocol, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
EDGE Analysis
Speed was not known to be dealing with any issue prior to Saturday's comments from Steichen, likely indicating that the linebacker sustained a head injury at some point during the Colts' 27-13 preseason win against Philadelphia on Thursday. The 28-year-old played a significant role on special teams and as a primary backup linebacker last season, recording a career-high 63 tackles, one sack and two passes defended. Speed figures to step up into a full-time starting role at weakside linebacker in 2023, so it will be worth monitoring his status heading into the season opener against Jacksonville on Sunday, Sept. 10.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Thu 8/10/23 1:54 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed (ankle) returned to practice earlier this week, Mike Chappell of Fox59.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Speed missed practice time last week, but he was back on the field Sunday, intercepting a pass from Gardner Minshew during a two-minute drill. The 28-year-old's ability to recover quickly is good news for the defense, as Speed is expected to serve in a much larger role in the team's linebacker corps this season.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Thu 8/3/23 10:59 AM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed (ankle) will not practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Speed left practice early Tuesday with the injury and is still not fully recovered. The 28-year-old set career highs in numerous categories last season, including tackles, while also recording his first NFL sack. He's expected to be the team's starting weak-side linebacker this season, so getting him healthy and on the field will be a priority for the Colts' defense.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Tue 3/14/23 12:03 AM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed agreed on a two-year contract to remain with the Colts on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Indianpolis' fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has steadily increased his production every season, and Speed set a career high with 63 tackles in 2022 while also notching the first sack of his career. Speed will likely be slated for a similar part-time role on the Indianapolis defense in 2023.
E.J. Speed LB HOU (6) Tue 11/29/22 11:12 PM
E.J. Speed
LB HOU (6)
Speed recorded seven tackles (three solo) during Monday's 24-17 loss to the Steelers.
EDGE Analysis
Speed tied cornerback Stephon Gilmore for the Colts' third-most tackles against Pittsburgh. While he only played 18 of his 39 snaps on defense Week 12, the linebacker still notched six defensive stops, including five on just one drive in the second quarter. Speed has now set a new career high for tackles (43) while primarily playing on special teams over 12 games. However, he should continue playing as a primary reserve behind starting linebackers Bobby Okereke and Zaire Franklin against Dallas this coming Sunday.