Ex-Vikings Defender Auditions for Colts

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

The Indianapolis Colts are 2-2 through four games and have a 37% chance of reaching the postseason, according to DVOA odds.

Ex-Vikings Defender Auditions for Colts

And to possibly bolster defensive secondary depth, Indianapolis worked out former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan this week.

Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports.

KPRC2ā€™s Aaron Wilson tweeted Tuesday, ā€œColts worked out Cornell Armstrong, Tre Herndon, A.J. Parker, Chandon Sullivan, Tracy Walker.ā€

If Sullivanā€™s audition turns into a contract offer, heā€™d likely live on the Coltsā€™ practice squad. These are Indianapolis corners at the moment:

Samuel Womack III

Jaylon Jones

Kenny Moore II

Dallis Flowers

Chris Lammons

Gregory Junior (Practice Squad)

Kelvin Joseph (Practice Squad)

Jaylin Simpson (Practice Squad)

David Long (Practice Squad)

Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports.

The Coltsā€™ passing defense ranks 18th in the league entering Week 5 per the aforementioned DVOA metric.

And hereā€™s Sullivanā€™s career resume to date:

Philadelphia EaglesĀ (2018)

Green Bay PackersĀ (2019ā€“2021)

Minnesota VikingsĀ (2022)

Pittsburgh SteelersĀ (2023)

Sullivan last played for the Steelers, seeing action on 422 defensive plays in 2023. He produced a decent 61.2Ā Pro Football FocusĀ grade for his troubles. His one-year deal expired after the 2023 campaign, and no team signed him ā€” which he hopes will change with the Colts tryout.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen speaks Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, during a post-game press conference at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Colts defeated the Ravens in overtime, 22-19. Ā© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Sullivan was the slot cornerback for the 2022 Vikings, an assignment that turned out to be a one-year pitstop, not all that different from former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. Minnesota hired Donatell at the dawn of the Kevin Oā€™Connell age, the team won 13 games with the NFLā€™s second-worst defense per yards allowed, and Donatell was dismissed four days after the Vikings lost in the postseason. Brian Flores was hired thereafter, and Sullivan wasnā€™t prioritized for a second season in Minnesota.

Referees notably robbed Sullivan of two defensive touchdowns ā€” in the same game ā€” against the Indianapolis Colts in December. The Vikings still pulled off the greatest comeback in NFL history, but if officials didnā€™t prematurely blow dead Sullivanā€™s fumble returns for touchdowns, the 33-0 halftime hole wouldnā€™t have been as egregious.

In one season with the Vikings, Sullivan fired up a 55.8Ā Pro Football FocusĀ grade, the 21st-worst leaguewide among 118 qualifying cornerbacks. In that regard, it is no surprise the Vikings said ā€œno thanksā€ to a Sullivan sequel in 2023.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports.

The Colts travel to Jacksonville for a date with the Jaguars on Sunday, a team with a 0-4 record that could be in sheer desperation mode.

Indianapolis also employs former Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell on its practice squad.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ā€˜The Sopranos,ā€™ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.Ā 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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