Longtime Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is reportedly signing a one-year contract to play his 14th NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts. This comes just one season after Philip Rivers came out of retirement to play for Indy late last season.
I think everyone around the Chargers knew that he wasn’t coming back, but it’s still a blow to the gut to see Allen sign elsewhere. He’s only 15 receptions away from becoming the first Charger to record 1,000 receptions with the franchise and only 535 yards away from overtaking Antonio Gates as the all-time leader in receiving yards. Signing him just to let him chase those numbers would have been understandable, yet still unfair to the young players who deserve the looks and targets over him.
The Colts signing Allen likely means that the current injury limiting wideout Alex Pierce in practice is lingering more than the they expected and Allen gives them a veteran presence in the room to help keep the offense churning into the regular season opener.
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Allen currently sits 33rd all-time in receiving yards with 12,051. With 100 yards, he will pass former Chargers wideout Charlie Joiner and break into the top 30. If he can break 401 yards, he’ll pass Brandon Marshall for 27th all-time. Totaling 651 yards this year would surpass the great Art Monk and land him inside the top 25.
I’m not sure how much usage he’ll get in Indy when Pierce is healthy alongside promising youngster Josh Downs and budding star tight end Tyler Warren, but he’s nonetheless one of the best WR3s in the league if that’s the case.
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