T.J.

Green

Green suffered a hamstring injury in the Colts’ third preseason game against the Niners. He will revert to injured reserve if/when he clears waivers. There’s a strong chance he will be released with an injury settlement once he’s back to full health. The 23-year-old struggled in coverage last year but impressed as a run-stopper, earning PFF’s No. 10 safety grade in that category.

Green is an explosive athlete with good cover skills, but he has only played on the defensive side of the ball for two seasons. He will likely be given a year to develop behind starters Mike Adams and Clayton Geathers before pushing for playing time. Green could be the long-term replacement for Adams, who turned 35 in March.

Green appeared to be warming up in an attempt to play at halftime, but he was ruled out early in the third quarter. A second-round pick from Clemson, Green has been filling in for Clayton Geathers (foot) at strong safety.

It’s good news in that Green isn’t dealing with a long-term injury, but bad news in that he probably won’t be ready for Week 2. Green is filling in for Clayton Geathers (foot), who himself is questionable for this weekend’s game. The Colts are going to have a laughably-thin secondary against the Broncos.

A second-round pick in failed GM Ryan Grigson’s final draft class, Green is also technically behind FS Malik Hooker, SS Darius Butler, and injured SS Clayton Geathers. As a 2016 rookie, Green struggled mightily in his free safety snaps and made minimal impact on special teams.

A towering 6-foot-3, Green has the speed and athleticism to man corner, but is a converted receiver, not converted corner. It’s a new position for him, a difficult thing to learn at the NFL level. The No. 57 overall pick of last year’s draft, Green was a rookie disaster at safety.

Green saw reps at cornerback last season, but it did not work out and he was quickly moved back to safety. “That was a little bit of my fault,” Ballard said. “Right when I got here, I figured, ‘Let’s cut the field down for him.’ That was on me. And then he struggled in L.A. (in the season opener). He’s a safety.” After playing well down the stretch last season, Green has a good shot to earn a starting job.

Green (6'3/209) spent two seasons at safety after converting from wideout, emerging as a starter as a 2015 junior and logging 5.5 tackles for loss with two forced fumbles. Green helped himself at the Combine, blazing 4.34 with an explosive 10-foot-9 broad jump. Green flashes stingy cover skills and was at times utilized as an eighth defender in the box at Clemson, but he missed 17 tackles last season and has yet to fully unlock his athletic gifts. Green is something of a project, but offers upside. Green was announced as a safety by the Colts and figures to push FS Mike Adams and SS Clayton Geathers for snaps.