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Colts: Can 2021 NFL Draft second rounder Dayo Odeyingbo play in 2021?

By Cory Kinnan

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 23: Defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo #10 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after making a sack against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 23: Defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo #10 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after making a sack against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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A shock to many, the Indianapolis Colts doubled up on pass rushers, taking Dayo Odeyingbo in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. This came after using their first rounder to land the highly talented Michigan pass rusher Kwity Paye. The plan, however, with Odeyingbo is less straightforward than it is with Paye.

Training for the Reese’s Senior Bowl in January, Odeyingo tore his Achilles, a massive blow to a player as talented as the Vanderbilt pass rusher. Many thought this would cause his draft stock to take a massive hit as well. Instead, the Colts took the calculated risk of landing the versatile defensive lineman, understanding it may be some time before we see him on the field.

Well, the return of Odeyingbo may actually be sooner than people imagined.

What can the Colts expect from Odeyingbo in 2021?

Achilles injuries are always gruesome ones. A year ago, we saw second round safety Grant Delpit suffer one in training camp and miss the entirety of his rookie season for the Cleveland Browns. In fact, he is still recovering from it as it looks like the Browns will look to sprinkle him back into a full workload.

For Odeyingbo and the Colts, however, it appears he may be on a faster track than others with his Achilles recovery. Odeyingbo spoke with the media in Indianapolis after getting drafted by the Colts and told them his goal for this season: get on the field in 2021. He is targeting a return as early as October as he will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

"“The goal is to be back playing this year… So that’s what I’m working towards and that’ll play out how it plays out… Obviously, everybody wants to get back as fast as possible, but you have to with these injuries (go about it) the right way and don’t want to push anything too hard, kind of make it worse or kind or mess up your future or set you back. So I’m working hard to get back as fast as possible, but I’m definitely being careful with the whole situation. (Odeyingbo via Colts.com)”"

After landing Paye in the first round and Odeyingbo in the second, the Colts looked to completely overhaul their pass rush. Getting Odeyingbo back on the field as soon as possible will be a massive win for Indianapolis. It looks as though they just might get him back this season.

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