JELANI WOODS NEWS

Rookie Report: Jelani Woods Flashes Elite Potential in Year One Rookie tight end Jelani Woods didn’t see enough targets in year one, but he did show off some insane potential in his few opportunities.

JANUARY 24, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Colts rookie report: How Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods, Bernhard Raimann grew in trying season The Colts made life tough on their rookies this year, but adversity also builds and tests professionals. Here's how their rookies performed.

JANUARY 24, 2023 • INDYSTAR.COM

Jelani Woods: Rookie Season View some of the best photos of tight end Jelani Woods in his 2022 debut season with the Colts.

JANUARY 23, 2023 • COLTS.COM

2022 Rookie Review: Jelani Woods Shows Upside As Playmaking Weapon For Colts' Offense Woods' size and athleticism showed up over the course of the 2022 third-round pick's rookie season.

JANUARY 18, 2023 • COLTS.COM

Rookie season fizzles out Woods had one reception for nine yards on four targets in Sunday's loss to Houston.

Impact 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 that perhaps the team can make him more of a focus in 2023.

JANUARY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to serve as top TE again Woods is expected to draw a third consecutive start Sunday against the Texans with Kylen Granson (ankle) ruled out for the season finale.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Just three receptions Woods had three receptions for 19 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss at the Giants.

Impact Mo Alie-Cox got the start at tight end, but Woods played more snaps (35-31) and went out on more routes (15-10). Woods has become the leading pass target among Colts 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.

JANUARY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jelani Woods: Media Availability, December 27 Tight end Jelani Woods meets with the media following the Colts' Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • COLTS.COM

Insider: Jelani Woods, Alec Pierce reflect on chaotic rookie seasons Quarterback changes have taken a toll on the Colts offense and have presented unique challenges to rookie pass catchers Jelani Woods and Ale...

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • INDYSTAR.COM

Jelani Woods: Colts vs. Chargers Postgame Tight end Jelani Woods Smeets with the media following Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • COLTS.COM

Shows big-play potential Woods recorded three receptions on five targets for 43 yards in Monday's 20-3 loss to the Chargers.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT | Jelani Woods' 20th reception of '22 goes for 17-yard gain Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods' 20th reception of the 2022 NFL season goes for a 17-yard gain.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • COLTS.COM

Jelani Woods' 20th reception of '22 goes for 17-yard gain Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods' 20th reception of the 2022 NFL season goes for a 17-yard gain.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • NFL.COM

Foles' nifty pump fake opens door for 15-yard completion to Woods A pump fake from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles opens a passing lane to tight end Jelani Woods who gains 15 yards.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • NFL.COM

HIGHLIGHT | Nick Foles' nifty pump fake opens door for 15-yard completion to Woods A pump fake from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles opens a passing lane to tight end Jelani Woods who gains 15 yards.

DECEMBER 27, 2022 • COLTS.COM

Jelani Woods: Media Availability, December 19 Tight end Jelani Woods meets with the media following the Colts' Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • COLTS.COM

One catch in Week 15 loss Woods caught his only target for 36 yards in Saturday's 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT | Matt Ryan's accurate pass creates Jelani Woods' 36-yard catch and run into red zone Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan completes a pass to tight end Jelani Woods that results in a gain of 36 yards.

DECEMBER 17, 2022 • COLTS.COM

Limited role after big game Woods had two receptions for 28 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss at Dallas.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Why Colts limited Jelani Woods' snaps, rotated right tackles vs. Cowboys Dennis Kelly played 48 snaps and Matt Pryor played 24 in place of Braden Smith, who was held out due to illness.

DECEMBER 6, 2022 • INDYSTAR.COM

Listed as active Sunday night Woods (shoulder/quad) is listed as active for Sunday night's game against the Cowboys.

Impact Woods, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, logged a full session Friday before being deemed questionable for the contest. The 2022 third-rounder, who is coming off a breakout effort in Week 12 in which he caught eight of his nine targets for 98 yards in a 24-17 loss to the Steelers, will give it a go versus Dallas, but the return to action of fellow tight end Kylen Granson (who was inactive versus Pittsburgh due to an illness) means that Woods will have to share snaps with both Granson and Mo Alie-Cox, a context that could cut into the rookie's volume Sunday night.

DECEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for Week 13 Woods (shoulder/quad) will be listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Cowboys.

Impact Woods, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, was back on the field Friday, per Zak Keefer of The Athletic, but the tight end's status is unclear as Sunday night's 8:20 ET kickoff approaches. Woods is coming off a Week 12 effort in which he caught eight of his nine targets for 98 yards in Monday's 24-17 loss to the Steelers, but that season-high output coincided with fellow tight end Kylen Granson (who has practiced fully this week) being sidelined by an illness. Given Granson's looming availability and the timing of the Colts' kickoff, Woods currently profiles as a speculative fantasy lineup option in Week 13.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

In line to practice Friday Woods (shoulder/quad) is slated to practice Friday, Zak Keefer of The Athletic reports.

Impact Woods didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but his looming practice participation Friday suggests that the tight end could play Sunday night against the Cowboys. With Kylen Granson inactive in Week 12 due to an illness, Woods logged 41 snaps against the Steelers, while catching eight passes on nine targets for a team-high 98 yards.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jelani Woods Shining in Limited Snaps: Film Room Rookie tight end Jelani Woods has flashed great ability in limited snaps this season.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Jelani Woods Shining in Limited Snaps: Film Room Rookie tight end Jelani Woods has flashed great ability in limited snaps this season.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM