Colts Rookie Justin Walley Out for Season With Torn ACL

Colts Rookie Justin Walley Out for Season With Torn ACL originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Indianapolis Colts are officially snake-bitten by injuries, and there’s still a month left before the regular season begins. Third-round rookie cornerback Justin Walley, who has been receiving significant praise from the coaching staff all offseason, suffered a torn ACL today and is out for the season, according to the team.

Walley entered the season in competition with Juju Brents and Jaylon Jones for the second cornerback spot opposite free agent addition Charvarius Ward. Jones and Brents both suffered hamstring injuries in practice last week, and neither yet have a timetable for their return.

With Walley injured as well, the Colts' cornerback depth chart has gone from deep to bare, with Samuel Womack III now the likely week one starter if Jones and Brents can’t return soon. 

Womack had a solid season in Indianapolis in 2024, appearing in 17 games and starting eight. PFF awarded him a grade of 71.4 for his performance, which ranked 38th in the league at his position. 

Still, this injury trend is incredibly concerning, considering the current state of the cornerback depth chart just a month before the regular season. The Colts' likely next move is to attempt to sign a veteran cornerback off the free agency market. One such option is Stephon Gilmore, who appeared in 16 games for the Colts in 2022.

However, with the recent news of quarterback Anthony Richardson’s finger injury as well as those to Jones and Brents, the Colts are in serious need of respite from the injury bug. Ultimately, even if they can sign a serviceable free agent, losing Walley is an incredible blow to an already hurt team in serious need of young talent.

Related: Colts’ Anthony Richardson Suffers Gruesome-Looking Injury vs. Ravens

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.