Colts' early-round draft pick makes first start v. Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts' rookie linebacker CJ Allen is making his first NFL start against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8.

Earlier in the week, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo strongly hinted that this would be the case. Allen did not play last week against Minnesota due to injury, but Anarumo said if he had been available, he would have started in that game as well.

Anarumo added that Allen will be the middle linebacker, although Akeem Davis-Gaither will continue to wear the green dot as the defensive signal caller.

Allen was a second-round pick by the Colts this past April, and the expectation early on was that he would start right away and wear the green dot. However, after missing time during training camp, that never came to fruition.

Instead, Allen's role as a rookie had been relatively small. While the Colts rotated heavily at the WILL linebacker position, Allen was specifically a MIKE, a role filled by Davis-Gaither, who Anarumo did not want to take off the field.

So through seven games, Allen had played only 48 defensive snaps, which includes not seeing the field at all in two contests, even though he was healthy.