Jelani Woods News

After starting at tight end in Week 16 and 17 with Kylen Granson out, Mo-Alie Cox got the start in Week 18 but Woods had more targets and ran more routs (23 to 17). Woods showed promise in his rookie season with 25 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. After posting eight receptions for 98 yards in Week 12, it looked like he may take over the top tight end role in the passing game. However, he had just 10 receptions for 135 yards over the final five games. His late season disappointment was in part due to shaky quarterback play but also due to the Colts continuing to divide up tight end targets. Woods showed enough of a spark perhaps the team can make him more of a focus in 2023.

Woods technically started in Week 16 and Week 17 losses to the Chargers and Giants, respectively, but he narrowly outpaced fellow tight end Mo Alie-Cox in playing time. Woods logged snap shares of 64 and 61 percent in those two contests, while Alie-Cox registered 44 and 54 percent shares. However, Woods was the more productive receiver of the two; he recorded six catches for 62 yards on nine targets during that span, while Alie-Cox was targeted just three times.

Mo Alie-Cox got the start at tight end, but Woods played more snaps (35 to 31) and went out on more routes (15 to 10). Woods has become the leading pass target among the tight ends with Kylen Granson (ankle) sidelined. However, Indy's anemic pass offense won't result in many targets even with a good matchup in the season finale against Houston.

Woods saw increased opportunity with Kylen Granson (ankle) sidelined. While the Colts' offense was stalled for much of the game, Woods delivered catches of 17 and 15 yards early in the first quarter to account for the majority of his production and some of the team's better plays. He's been buried on the depth chart for long stretches of his rookie season, though Woods has multiple receptions in three of his last four contests.

Woods actually finished second on the team in receiving yards, trailing only Michael Pittman, who needed 14 targets to accrue 60 yards. The rookie tight end has flashed some promise, but Woods' short-term value is capped as he shares playing time with Kylen Granson in a low-octane Colts passing attack helmed by a washed-up Matt Ryan.

A week after posting eight catches for 98 yards on nine targets, Woods was an afterthought in the offense until late in the fourth quarter. Kylen Granson returned from an illness and started at tight end. Granson played the most snaps on offense (41) of the tight ends compared to Mo Alie-Cox (31) and Woods (15), though Woods ran the second-most routes. Perhaps Woods will get more of a role after the bye given his upside, but the Colts have split targets three ways all season between the tight ends amid a passing attack that has struggled.