The best ability is availability. That is a phrase popularized by coach Bill Parcells, which still holds true today. Most coaches would prefer a player of lesser talent and skill on the field, court, or rink above an uber talented yet oft-injured player. So many times in the NFL, players are given opportunities that can turn into career altering moments due to injury. Get on the field, and the rest can be history. Two young and promising players’ time with the Indianapolis Colts was cut short as both Jelani Woods and JuJu Brents were waived this week. Not that either were set for superstardom but injuries always create a case of “what ifs” for players and fans, leaving us wondering what could have been.
Woods was a behemoth of a tight end who had a very encouraging rookie year. Woods made that monster catch against the Chiefs to win the game, and it looked like the Colts found a bruising target who could create mismatches across the field and especially the endzone. Unfortunately, a nagging hamstring injury never healed over the course of the 2023 season, and a toe injury kept him out the entire year after. Those were monumental blows for Woods, from which he was never able to recover. Although the tight end play was abysmal overall last year, the selection of Tyler Warren and impressive camp from Will Mallory made Woods expendable.
Much of the same can be said about Brents. Pegged as the hometown kid, he hardly ever played in front of the hometown fans. When he was on the field, he looked good, but that was too rare of an event to secure a roster spot this year. A career that started early and often with injury, ended the same way. Brents simply couldn’t stay healthy. From a torn meniscus to a quadriceps injury and everything in between, Brents spent more time rehabbing than playing. Once again, his unit isn’t the deepest or strongest on the team which goes to show how much the Colts must have considered both players’ injury history when making these decisions.
For both players and fans, these moves are extremely disappointing. Jelani Woods and JuJu Brents both flashed at times, but there weren’t enough data points to justify keeping them around. Players have to be on the field on Sundays. If they aren’t, they are of no real use to the team. Neither of these men were available when the team needed them, so unfortunately, they fell victim to the cruel reality that confronts a player who is perpetually injured in professional sports. Availability is the best ability, and when a player no longer has that ability they become a casualty of the system.
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