INDIA PARK — D.J. Montgomery of the Colts had to go a considerable distance to reach an NFL
To be precise, that’s five seasons, four NFL clubs, and two other professional leagues. The dream felt like it was getting closer at times and farther aw
Indianapolis Colts: Predicting the starting defense in Week 1
Montgomery missed his first opportunity, which came on Saturday night against Pittsburgh on a perfectly timed fourth down pass from Gardner Minshew near the back of the end zone.
Montgomery initially made the grab, but when he rolled over in the end zone, he was unable to hold onto it.
At least for a little while, he had to feel like this Indianapolis opportunity—possibly the best of his career—was slipping away.
However, his experiences go well beyond a misdirected touchdown pass.
Montgomery remarked, “It’s football; it has its ups and downs.” “Guys make mistakes in tackles, kicks, and blocks. All you need to do is keep playing; it will return quickly.
If Montgomery believed otherwise, he could be pardoned.
He’s experienced so much. After signing with Cleveland in 2019 after being undrafted out of Austin Peay, he suffered a hamstring injury during training camp that ended his season. A week later, in 2020, he was released from Cleveland.
Subsequently, the Jets added him to their practice squad, where he remained for the whole 2020 season and almost all of 2021 until his activation in the latter part of 2021. Montgomery caught three receptions while playing in three Jets games.
He was cut by New York prior to the start of the 2022 training camp. A few weeks later, Indianapolis gave him a try before cutting him; he didn’t play for another team until the summer of 2023, when he signed with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in anticipation of a postseason match.
“It opened my eyes,” Montgomery remarked. It’s difficult over there. Guys are working incredibly hard, and they have one goal in mind. simply to arrive here.
Montgomery was unable to predict if he would ever return.
However, the Colts kept Montgomery on the practice squad and invited him to a workout halfway through training camp. They also watched Montgomery excel on the scout team during the season, catching five catches for 75 yards in a preseason game.
“He’s been the scout team player of the week like five times,” tight end Mo Alie-Cox said.
A lot of players feel stuck on the practice squad.
Not Montgomery.
“There’s a lot of guys at home, on the street,” Montgomery said. “I’ve been on both ends of it. At home on the couch, USFL, here in the locker room. I’ve seen every side of it. There’s a lot of guys who’d love to just walk in here and see their name on the locker.”
But he wasn’t that guy on Saturday night.
The Colts needed him when Steelers safety Damontae Kazee knocked Indianapolis star Michael Pittman Jr. out of the game with a concussion on a play that earned Kazee ejection. Even after Montgomery’s end-zone drop, Indianapolis needed him — the Colts made veteran wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie a healthy scratch on Saturday, leaving them with few options at receiver.
