After missing an entire season, Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods has the chance to carve out a prominent role in the offense.
Woods lost his 2023 season due to nagging hamstring injuries that plagued him both in the spring workouts and after he suffered a setback during the middle of the season.
After showing promise during his rookie campaign, there was a lot of optimism that he could break out in Shane Steichen's RPO-heavy scheme.
While we didn't get to see that in 2023, Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team predicts Woods is in line for a massive breakout campaign.
Even though the Colts have Michael Pittman Jr. returning on a three-year deal, rookie Adonai Mitchell coming in as the potential X receiver and second-year player Josh Downs reprising his role in the slot, Mosher is bullish on Woods' upside.
In fact, Mosher said, "Don’t be shocked when he records 700-plus yards and scores double-digit touchdowns this season."
If the Colts got 700 yards and 10 touchdowns out of Woods, that likely means a massive deal for the offense. It would mean Anthony Richardson rose above expectations in a major way as well and likely would push Indy into the playoffs.
In the three seasons before he joined the Colts (2020-2022), the top tight end in Steichen's offense averaged 57 receptions, 715 yards and 3-4 touchdowns per season. The group was led in 2022 by Kylen Granson, who recorded 30 receptions for 368 yards and one touchdown.
It would take a lot for Woods to reach the pre-Colts numbers of Steichen's scheme, but his elite athleticism always keeps the door open for a big season.
For more Colts coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on Sporting News.
