According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts worked out former Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-16) and (most recently) Tennessee Titans starting safety Johnathan Cyprien (2017-18) on Monday:
UFA safety Johnathan Cyprien is working out for the Colts today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 3, 2019
Originally a 2013 second round pick of the Jaguars in 2013 out of Florida International, the 6’1”, 211 pound safety has made 70 career starts, recording 506 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and 16 passes defensed.
Cyprien tore his ACL last August, two years into a four-year, $25 million deal he signed with the Titans back in 2017 and was subsequently released by Tennessee this past March.
The 28 year old safety last played in 2017, starting 10 games with 57 tackles, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble for the Titans. Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Cyprien finished with just a +54.1 grade overall, which was 86th of 94 qualifying safeties that season.
As a traditional in-the-box strong safety, Cyprien might still be able to help a team—if fully recovered, as he isn’t too far removed from being one of the best safeties against the run in all of football.
However, his play slipped in 2017, and he’s coming off a major knee injury, so it’s hard to anticipate that he’d receive anything more than around the veteran minimum right now—especially since the offseason just hit June and he remains unsigned.
Cyprien also doesn’t offer much in the coverage department as a whole, which limits his usefulness.
Right now, the Colts appear to have four solid safeties including Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers, Matthias Farley, and rookie Khari Willis—even if there’s some durability issues, collectively.
Cyprien could be viewed as a possible insurance policy for Geathers—should his knee issue linger after an offseason procedure—as he plays a similarly physical, hard-hitting game.
The question is whether Cyprien would be able to successfully play special teams because as maybe the 4th or 5th safety on the Colts 53-man roster, someone like backup George Odum certainly can.
It looks like this is a classic ‘kick the tires, see what he’s got’ work out for the Colts, in case the Colts need Cyprien as veteran insurance down the road, should injuries at the safety position further arise.
The way it currently stands, it appears Cyprien will not be an immediate signing for the Colts—as it looks like he left town without a deal.
That being said, the veteran’s at least somewhat on the team’s radar going forward, should the need arise.
In other workout news, per the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, the Colts are also set to work out former Washington Redskins offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty on Tuesday:
Colts working out free agent offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty tomorrow, per source. Former sixth-rd pick of the Giants was cut by Washington last week. Some due diligence at an important position.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 3, 2019
The former 2017 6th round pick of the New York Giants out of Pittsburgh has bounced around his early NFL career, having also spent time with the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings organizations.
The 6’5”, 310 pound offensive lineman has made 1 career start with the Giants in 2017.
This appears to be general manager Chris Ballard simply performing his due diligence, as he looks to potentially improve the team’s offensive line depth.
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