Just recently, the Indianapolis Colts lost cornerback Jaylon Jones to a hamstring injury. It didn't take them long to bring in reinforcements to make up for his absence. One of the players they signed used to suit up for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports reports that Indy signed cornerbacks Tre Herndon and Duke Shelley. In corresponding moves, cornerback David Long Jr. was placed on Injured Reserve, and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. was released.
A look back at Tre Herndon's stint with the Jaguars
Tre Herndon signed with the Jags after going undrafted in 2018. Although he mostly contributed on special teams as a rookie, he worked his way up the depth chart and ended up making 14 starts in his sophomore campaign. He followed that up with 12 more in 2020.
Expected to man the slot in 2021, Herndon suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for several weeks. And when he got back, he barely got any playing time. Nevertheless, the Jags valued him enough that they brought him back on a one-year tender in 2022. Again, the Detroit, Michigan native saw plenty of action, mostly at nickel and was rewarded with a one-year deal in 2023.
Herndon became a free agent in 2024 and signed with the New York Giants. He didn't make their 53-man roster and spent time with the New Orleans Saints' practice squad during the regular season.
Once again, the veteran corner became a free agent and remained unsigned until the Colts came calling.
Related: Winners and losers from the first week of Jaguars training camp
How can the Tre Herndon signing affect the Jaguars?
It's hard to tell just how much Jaylon Jones is going to miss, but his absence will fill a void in the Indianapolis secondary. That's why it wasn't particularly shocking to see the Colts' brass add Duke Shelley and Tre Herndon, a couple of experienced options to their cornerback room. Of the two, Herndon may offer the most value.
The Vanderbilt product won't be making the Pro Bowl any time soon, but he's a great backup and a decent if unremarkable starter who can be thrust into action. The fact that he has the versatility to play inside or outside could give the Colts ample flexibility if he sticks around in 2025.
Now, it's not a given that Herndon will make the Indianapolis 53-man roster, but he certainly has a shot, especially if Jones has to miss extended time. Granted, there will be a noticeable dropoff from Jones to Herndon, but it won't be that steep.
Ultimately, it's always great to see a former Jaguar keep their NFL career going, even if it's with a division foe, and if Tre Herndon makes the most of the chances he'll get in training camp and the preseason, he will get the chance to face his old team twice in 2025.