ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT PLAY in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Bills, new Colts running back D’Onta Foreman is looking forward to the opportunity to make the Week 1 roster.
It has been a whirlwind week for the Texas City native, who learned on Sunday that the Texans were releasing him after just two seasons with the franchise that made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. A host of phone calls and contract negotiations resulted in Foreman staying in the AFC South division on Monday afternoon when he and the Colts came to terms on a deal.
“The Texans alluded to me having a fresh start,” Foreman told Colts.com. “I mean, at the end of the day, it was the first start for me. I never played outside of Texas, never played on the team more than three hours away from my hometown. So, me being way out here, it’s definitely different for me, definitely a different vibe from Houston.”
Foreman will compete for carries behind Marlon Mack, who is locked in as the starter. At 6’1, 236 pounds, he gives the Colts the power runner to complement fellow backup running back Nyheim Hines, who is more of a pass-catching specialist.
“As I can see, (it) looks like I’m the biggest back on the team,” said Foreman. “Physical style…and then just me coming out here grinding hard, trying to push everybody and also just trying to find a way to push myself. This is a different environment, so I just got to find a way to fit in and make the best of it.”
Should he make the Colts’ roster, Foreman will two opportunities to play against his former teammates. Houston visits Indianapolis on October 20 before the Colts head to NRG Stadium for a Thursday night showdown on November 21.
Foreman won’t be alone if he’s in need of someone to either sing the Texas City High School fight song or compare notes about facing the likes of La Marque and Galveston Ball. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard is a 1988 graduate of Texas City and quarterbacked the Stings in the rough and tumble mid-80s when both Texas City and La Marque were part of a district that included Clear Lake, La Porte and Galveston Ball.
In a photo taken before the release of his brother, D’Onta Foreman, Armanti Foreman showed up at Texans camp last week. Armanti, who was a member of the Canadian Football League Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders last season, recently worked out for the Houston franchise in the Vince McMahon-owned XFL, which begins play next spring. He is under strong consideration to make the roster that will begin camp in late fall. Photo Courtesy of Aaron Wilson
