Days 'Til Colts Kickoff: No. 97 Al-Quadin Muhammad

With 97 days until the Indianapolis Colts kickoff in Week 1 of the regular season, we look at a prominent recent No. 97, Al-Quadin Muhammad.

When the Indianapolis Colts made a switch in defense in 2018 under then-new coordinator Matt Eberflus, they needed to be stout up front for it all to work, and young guys needed to grow up in a hurry.

One young player who unexpectedly stood out and made himself a fixture in the lineup for the next few years was defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Muhammad was drafted by the New Orleans Saints out of Miami in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 196th overall pick, and he would appear in four games as a rookie, registering one tackle.

The following summer, Muhammad didn't make the cut for the Saints following training camp and the preseason but would catch on the day after his departure with the Colts.

From there, he became a favorite of Eberflus and earned a role as one of the first players off the bench before eventually becoming a starter. Muhammad was initially a quality run defender while steadily improving his abilities as a pass rusher over the next few seasons.

Between 2018-21 in Indianapolis, Muhammad started 25-of-64 games and totaled 127 tackles (22 for loss), 11.0 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered, and 1 pass breakup.

He hit free agency the same offseason that Eberflus left the Colts to become the new head coach of the Chicago Bears. In a move that surprised no one, Muhammad followed his coach to the Windy City, where he started 9-of-16 games in his first season with the Bears, compiling 29 tackles (1 for loss), 1.0 sack, 1 QB hit, and 1 forced fumble.

DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF

• No. 99: DeForest Buckner
• No. 98: Robert Mathis

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