The Indianapolis Colts fought their way back to an even record to close out the first month of the season and are looking to put together a three-game winning streak.
With a vital matchup coming up against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Duval County, a place they haven't won since 2014, the Colts need all the help on defense they can get.
As many as five starting players could be absent from the lineup for the second week in a row, which is why some regular starters hold even more weight moving forward.
In naming a potential trade candidate for the Green Bay Packers, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report landed on one of the Colts' starting linebackers in E.J. Speed.
"Linebacker is a current weakness for the Packers as starters Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie each posted sub-50 grades from Pro Football Focus through the first three games of the season. Meanwhile, Speed has been listed on B/R's NFL Trade Block Big Board in back-to-back weeks and would be an upgrade for the defense," Ballentine wrote.
From a Packers perspective, this makes sense. They could use some talent in the middle of the defense, and Speed is enjoying another strong season on the final year of his contract.
However, from the Colts perspective, they wouldn't be able to afford letting Speed go in the middle of the season.
They are still in the hunt for a playoff spot despite starting the season 0-2 and with the injuries mounting on the defensive side of the ball, they need Speed to provide his consistent play in the middle of the field.
Anything can happen in the NFL and who knows where the Colts will be when the trade deadline arrives at the end of the month. But right now, Speed is an asset they can't part ways with at his current value.
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