Hakeem Nicks won't be the only big addition to the Indianapolis Colts on offense next season.
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Promising tight end Dwayne Allen missed virtually all of 2013 after suffering a hip injury in September that required surgery. Allen has put the final touches on a six-month rehab process and has declared himself ready to begin preparation for a new season with teammates.
"I'm great. I'm actually back to 100 percent," Allen told WFNI-AM in Indianapolis last Friday (via the Colts' official website).
What will the Colts' offense look like with Allen back in the mix? Expect plenty of two tight-end sets with Allen and Coby Fleener, with Allen adding some much-welcomed physicality as a blocker and run-after-catch performer.
Our own Chris Wesseling predicted last summer that Allen was in position to emerge as a Pro Bowl-level player on a promising offense led by Andrew Luck. If Allen truly is back to his old self, there's no reason to doubt his ascendence to star status is coming -- just one year later than expected.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" breaks down DeSean Jackson trade rumors and tries to figure out who will be next year's Michael Bennett (or Brent Grimes).