CB Dallis Flowers is rehabbing his Achilles injury, believes in Colts defensive backfield

INDIANAPOLIS — Dallis Flowers believes the Colts have the cornerbacks they need to take the next step this season.

Indianapolis, which struggled with injury and ineffectiveness at outside cornerback last season, hasn’t signed a free agent at the position. And although the Colts re-signed their best cornerback, Kenny Moore II, questions remain about the rest of the group.

Flowers believes his group will rise to the challenge.

“I think we’re good. We’ve got a lot of young talent,” Flowers said. “We’ve got some young guys, still me – I’m still kind of young, but transitioning to being a veteran player. We’ve got JuJu (Brents), we’ve got (Jaylon Jones), (Darrell Baker Jr.). I like our guys.”

Indianapolis could add more cornerbacks, either through free agency or next week’s draft, where the Colts hold the No. 15 pick of the first round.

But after a season in which offenses responded to a relentless Colts pass rush with max protection, Indianapolis needs a secondary that gives defensive coordinator Gus Bradley more options.

“As the young guys in the back end continue to mature and get better, obviously, with Kenny and Julian Blackmon (back), shore up the back end,” middle linebacker Zaire Franklin said.

Flowers has to be healthy.

Immediately identified as a potential diamond in the rough after he was signed as an undrafted free agent two years ago, Flowers won the starting job as the team’s No. 1 cornerback out of training camp. The Colts liked what they saw in the first four games, as he held opponents to 6.1 yards per attempt and a .533 completion percentage.

“I’m happy,” Flowers said. “Always can be better, but Year 2, those first four games, I was getting my feet wet, if you know what I’m saying. Happy with what I’ve shown so far.”

But Flowers did not get to find out where his development might lead. Flowers suffered a torn Achilles tendon in overtime of the fourth game, forcing him to the sideline for the rest of the season.

“This is my first real-deal injury in my life,” Flowers said. “I’ve never really missed games before.”

But he is used to overcoming adversity.

Flowers was somewhat overlooked in college, playing at Grand View and Pittsburg State before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the incredible athleticism that ended up catching the eye of the Colts.

An Achilles injury is a different kind of adversity.

Flowers is not back to full strength, and it is often difficult for an athlete to regain his explosiveness in the first year following an Achilles tear.

“I’m feeling good with where I’m at,” Flowers said. “Kudos to the training staff, to (Colts orthopedic surgeon Dave Porter). Feeling comfortable with where I’m at, I’m in a good spot, really just taking it day by day.”

If his explosiveness returns, Flowers will likely factor into the picture at cornerback, even if the Colts bring in some help.

For the moment, though, he’s focused on the rehab.

“I believe I dealt with it the best way possible,” Flowers said. “Of course it was tough, but I believe that I’ve been doing the best that I could. I feel like I’m in a good spot now mentally.”

Flowers and the Colts are hoping the physical side will follow.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Dallis Flowers rehabbing Achilles with return to Colts lineup in mind