Colts' Zaire Franklin: Sets franchise record in 2022
Rotowire
Franklin (ankle) tallied a career-high 167 tackles (102 solo), three sacks and six passes defended over 17 games in the 2022 season.
Franklin more than quadrupled his previous career high for tackles while stepping up in place of star linebacker Shaquille Leonard (neck/back) this season. The 26-year-old Franklin did exit with a groin injury during the Week 18 loss to Houston, though he was able to return and record four more tackles before the end of this contest, according to Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site. As a result, the 2019 seventh-round pick set the new franchise record for tackles in a single season, breaking the previous record set by Leonard in 2018. With fellow linebacker and Indianapolis' second-leading tackler Bobby Okereke (151) set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Franklin could be in store for another prominent role alongside Leonard during the 2023 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Leaves with injury Sunday
Rotowire
Franklin (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Texans, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Franklin has already logged four tackles during Sunday's regular-season finale, though his return for the remainder of the second half is now up in the air. The 26-year-old has played nearly every defensive snap for Indianapolis this season. In his stead, E.J. Speed will likely take on a bigger role alongside Bobby Okereke for the time being.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Logs sack in loss
Rotowire
Franklin accumulated nine tackles (five solo) and one sack in Monday's 20-3 loss to the Chargers.
While Franklin had a streak of five consecutive games with double-digit sacks snap, he was still productive in the contest. He was one of three Colts to be on the field for all 68 defensive snaps. The 26-year-old shows no signs of slowing down ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Double-digit stops once again
Rotowire
Franklin recorded 10 tackles (six solo) and one forced fumble during Saturday's 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings.
Franklin jarred the ball loose from running back Dalvin Cook midway through the first quarter of the Week 15 matchup in Minnesota, while he also logged his fifth consecutive contest with at least double-digit stops Saturday. The 26-year-old now has a team-leading 141 tackles across 14 games played this season, and he'll likely retain his every-down role when Indianapolis hosts the Chargers next Monday night.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Leading tackler in blowout loss
Rotowire
Franklin recorded 10 tackles (six solo) and one pass defended in Sunday's 54-19 loss to the Cowboys.
Franklin played every defensive snap for the 11th time this season, as Dallas did not truly pull away until midway through the fourth quarter. The starting linebacker has now recorded double-digit tackles in eight of 13 games this season, including each of the last three weeks. Franklin's prominent role in the middle of Indianapolis' defense has led him to record the second-most tackles (131) in the NFL so far this season. However, his position among the league's top tacklers could take a step back while the Colts are on bye Week 14.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Logs 11 tackles in MNF
Rotowire
Franklin recorded 11 tackles (five solo) during Monday's 24-17 loss to the Steelers.
Franklin wound up playing every defensive snap after coming into Monday's contest questionable with an illness. As a result, the linebacker led the Colts in stops while logging his seventh double-digit tackle performance of the season. Over 12 weeks, Franklin now has 121 tackles, one sack and three passes defended, and, barring injury, he should finish the 2022 campaign as one of the league's leading tacklers.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Leads team in stops
Rotowire
Franklin logged 10 tackles (seven solo), including one tackle for loss, during Sunday's 25-20 win over the Raiders.
Franklin logged double-digit tackles for the fifth time in 10 games played this season. The fifth-year linebacker also fell just shy of playing every defensive snap for Indianapolis for the first time in 2022, and he is now three stops away from the first 100-tackle campaign of his career. With star linebacker Shaquille Leonard (neck) now expected to miss the remainder of the season, Franklin should have a very good chance to finish as one of the NFL's leading tacklers by year's end. His next game will come against the Eagles on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Modest outing in loss
Rotowire
Franklin recorded eight tackles (six solo) and a pass defended in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Commanders.
Franklin tied his second-fewest tackles in a game during this contest, and he has already doubled his previous career high in tackles so far in 2022. While fellow linebacker Shaquille Leonard did return from a back injury that kept him sidelined over the previous three games, Franklin should still finish as one of the league's top tacklers by the end of the season.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Seven tackles in loss
Rotowire
Franklin recorded seven tackles (four solo), including one for loss, in Sunday's 19-10 defeat against the Titans.
Franklin logged a season low in tackles despite finishing third on the team in this category behind Grover Stewart and Bobby Okereke against Tennessee. The 6-foot Franklin has now played every defensive snap over the first seven games of the season for the Colts, recording 73 stops and two passes defended while doing so.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Another double-digit tackle game
Rotowire
Franklin registered 12 tackles (seven solo), including one for loss, during Sunday's 34-27 win over the Jaguars.
Franklin notched his fourth double-digit tackle outing over his last five appearances and finished second on the team in tackles behind Bobby Okereke. Across six appearances, Franklin has recorded 66 stops and two pass defenses. As long as Shaquille Leonard (nose) remains sidelined, expect Okereke and Franklin to continue piling up stops.
Franklin recorded 15 tackles (eight solo) during Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Titans.
Franklin has recorded at least 10 tackles in three straight games and notched a career-high 15 stops during the team's Week 4 loss. Across four appearances, the fifth-year linebacker already has more tackles this season (45) than he's had in any of his previous four campaigns. As long as Shaquille Leonard (back/concussion) remains out, look for Franklin to continue garnering a major role in the middle of the Colts defense.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Eight tackles in season opener
Rotowire
Franklin started at middle linebacker and had eight total tackles in Sunday's tie at Houston.
Franklin played on all 70 of the defense's snaps, which bodes well for his fantasy value considering he frequently came off the field in nickel and dime packages last season.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Off COVID list
Rotowire
Franklin was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
Franklin was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week, but he managed two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart to suit up for Saturday's matchup. The 2018 seventh-round pick has yet to record more than 25 defensive snaps in any game this season.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Just one tackle Sunday
Rotowire
Franklin started at weak-side linebacker and had one total tackle in Sunday's loss at Seattle.
Franklin won a starting linebacker role in the preseason, but played just on 17 of the defense's 54 snaps. He came off the field in nickel and dime packages, which limits his fantasy upside.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Gets reps as starting linebacker
Rotowire
Franklin took the initial snaps as the starting strong-side linebacker in the team's recent voluntary offseason workouts being held at team headquarters, Stephen Holder of The Athletic reports.
Bobby Okereke looks set to be the starting middle linebacker this season with the departure of Anthony Walker in free agency, while Franklin will compete for the strong-side role. Franklin mostly worked in a reserve role last season, but he impressed against the run. He struggled against the pass by allowing 14 receptions on 16 targets, according to Pro Football Focus, so he could come off the field in nickel and dime formations.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Ruled out against Chiefs
Rotowire
Franklin (hamstring) will miss the remainder of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
With the Colts on bye in Week 6, Franklin will have two weeks to heal up before the team's next game in Week 7 against the Texans.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Zaire Franklin: Picks up hamstring injury
Rotowire
Franklin (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chiefs, George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin reports.
Franklin picked up a hamstring injury that has shed doubt over his availability for the remainder of the contest.
