Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren is only a rookie, yet he’s already stealing the spotlight.
Warren’s NFL debut was as good as it could’ve been. The former Penn State Nittany Lion recorded a team-leading seven catches for 76 yards. Beyond the stat sheet, though, Warren’s presence on the field created a clear difference from Colts’ offenses in the past which have lacked an impact tight end.
His ability to transform the unit so early on has drawn plenty of positive attention, including from a defensive leader for the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis’ Week 2 opponent. On Thursday, Broncos cornerback and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II spoke on the challenge Warren is for a defense.
“He’s very dynamic,” Surtain said. “We definitely gotta keep our eye out for him. Once he gets the ball in his hands he has the ability to make a big play. So we have to do the best we can to contain him.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton also sees the danger Warren can cause.
“We liked him (in the draft),” Payton told The Athletic. “He was different than maybe a couple of the other tight ends, but he’s big, rugged, physical, strong. Clearly, you can come up with a number of visions for all the things he does.”
Denver will be the first big test for Warren in his young career as he’ll go up against one of the league’s premier defensive units.