Colts' top pick CJ Allen didn't play at all against Ravens

INDIANAPOLIS — When the Colts drafted CJ Allen with their first pick this year, Indianapolis envisioned the Georgia linebacker stepping into the starting lineup from Day 1.

Allen apparently still has a long way to go.

The Colts‘ top pick did not play a single snap in Sunday’s 41-23 blowout loss despite being active. Allen did not play on either defense or special teams.

“We’ll get him going,” Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. “He was banged up in camp, we’re getting him back into that football shape, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Allen’s situation on Sunday — not playing at all despite being part of the active roster — is fairly rare. NFL teams can only have a maximum of 48 players available Sundays, forcing teams to make sure everyone has a role. Typically, the only player on an active roster who does not see a single snap is the backup quarterback; Anthony Richardson did not play a snap for the Colts against Baltimore.

The lack of playing time comes as something of a surprise.

Indianapolis coaches have indicated that the team planned to use a rotation at linebacker. Veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither started and led the team with eight tackles, fellow starter Jaylon Carlies played but did not record a statistic and fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher finished with six tackles.

Allen’s rookie season has been filled with stops and starts so far.

He missed the first two days of training camp due to a calf injury suffered while training in the offseason, then worked back slowly into the lineup, only to pull a hamstring and miss the better part of two weeks. Because of the injuries, Allen did not get much time in the defense during training camp.

“He’s got a high level of care factor, and he’s got a standard of how he expects to play,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said at the end of camp. “He knows it hadn’t quite been there yet, and like I told him, I said, ‘Dude, when you haven’t practiced, that’s hard.’ And he will do everything he can to get caught back up.”

Allen apparently still has a ways to go.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts’ top pick CJ Allen didn’t play at all against Ravens

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