The Indianapolis Colts recently signed a promising young receiver to the practice squad, and he has a chance to be a productive weapon for Indy.
By Jaleel Grandberry
As the Indianapolis Colts were preparing to host the Los Angeles Rams for a Week 4 matchup, the team made a move that has fans intrigued. The Colts signed wide receiver KJ Hamler to the practice quad. With Hamler’s youth and talent, everyone’s excited to see if he can become a productive weapon for Indianapolis.
Colts sign wide receiver KJ Hamler to practice squad
Hamler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Denver is the only team he’s ever played with in the league, and he had a lot of ups and downs with the Broncos. As a rookie, KJ Hamler played in 13 games, recording 30 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, he ended the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
In the third game of his second NFL season, Hamler tore his ACL, finishing the year with just five receptions for 74 yards. In his return from the ACL injury, Hamler played in just seven games in year three, dealing with hamstring issues again. In those seven games, he had seven catches for 165 yards.
Since last season ended, Hamler has been going through it. He had surgery for a partially torn pec, and then was diagnosed with pericarditis, mild heart irritation. That’s when Hamler was released by the Broncos, as the young receiver took time to focus on his health, and eventually, a return to football.
He’s now ready to get back on the field. That will first be with Indianapolis’ practice squad. If he looks good, he’ll be added to the active roster, because the Colts have been relatively thin at receiver. Through the first three games, only five receivers have taken snaps: Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Isaiah McKenzie, and Juwann Winfree. Hamler has a chance to be added into that mix.
Originally posted on horeshoeheroes.com