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Indianapolis Colts: Dwayne Allen’s Health Vital to Team in 2016

By Garrett Hagan

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and tight end Dwayne Allen (83) talk before the game against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and tight end Dwayne Allen (83) talk before the game against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen heads into the 2016 year with a new, four-year contract. Given his recent health issues and lucrative deal, it is critical to Allen and the Colts that he stays healthy for the majority of the season.

The Indianapolis Colts signed tight end Dwayne Allen to a four-year, $29.4 million contract extension back in March.

With the signing, the Colts were able to keep Allen long-term, but lost another versatile tight end when Coby Fleener signed with the New Orleans Saints as a result of the Colts choosing to pay Allen over Fleener.

The signing received mixed reactions. Many questioned whether or not General Manager Ryan Grigson made the right choice in giving such a large amount of money to a player who has missed 21 games due to injury since entering the league in 2012.

On the other side, some feel the signing was the right choice as opposed to keeping Fleener. With quarterback Andrew Luck set to get an extension that offseason, the Colts couldn’t afford to keep both tight ends. While Fleener didn’t struggle with staying on the field during his four years with the team, Allen was viewed as the better blocker and more reliable option in the passing game — perhaps Fleener’s biggest problem was his consistency to catch the football.

With Fleener’s departure, Allen will now be the Colts’ No. 1 tight end in front of Jack Doyle. The Colts did recently sign Chase Coffman during training camp, but it is not a surefire bet that he will make the final roster cuts come September.

This upcoming season will be huge for Allen. If he does in fact remain healthy for the majority of the year, he’ll provide the Colts with a viable weapon in the passing game that can also be a reliable blocker when called upon.

With Doyle and Coffman having perhaps less experience than Allen in terms of action on the field, The Colts can’t afford to have Allen miss any significant amount of time in 2016.

As of right now, the Colts’ depth in the passing attack is looking somewhat bleak. With T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett being the team’s top-three receivers with nothing much below that, Allen’s role with the team could grow larger than it ever has.

Next: Indianapolis Colts: Is Depth at Wide Receiver an Issue?

Over the years, the Colts have boasted one of the league’s best offenses for the majority of the Luck-era in Indianapolis — with numerous weapons at Luck’s disposal.

If the Colts wish to climb back into contention atop the AFC in 2016, then good health will be needed not from just the receivers, but Allen himself.

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