The Los Angeles Chargers got pleasant news this offseason when it was announced that Nasir Adderley would attempt to make an NFL comeback with the Indianapolis Colts.
A second-round pick of the Chargers in the 2019 NFL Draft, Adderley came into the league as a highly-touted safety prospect. Although there were inconsistencies in his coverage, he was seen as a highly athletic defensive back with intriguing upside as a Day 2 pick.
Although he missed much of his rookie campaign, he spent three full, productive years in a Chargers uniform before he surprisingly made the decision to hang up his cleats after the conclusion of his rookie deal. A three-year stint out of the NFL is significant, and it doesn't come as a major surprise that Adderley ultimately wasn't able to crack the Colts' roster.
But it is certainly a disappointing development for a player that all Chargers fans are rooting for at this juncture in his career.
Nasir Adderley's comeback was just brought to a sudden stop
Indianapolis announced Adderley's release among a trio of cuts they made on Thursday, also moving on from cornerback Kenny Moore (who requested his release) and linebacker John Bullock.
It's not as though the talent was never there for Adderley. From 2020-2022, Adderley was a highly impactful defender for Los Angeles, amassing three interceptions and 230 combined tackles in that span. Apart from his rookie season, he played no fewer than 90% of the team's defensive snaps.
At the time he stepped away from the game, he seemed to be headed for a promising and productive second contract.
But three years away from the game can change things. With the amount of secondary depth the Colts added this offseason, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Adderley to even make it to training camp, let alone make the roster.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen was on the Chargers' offensive staff during Adderley's tenure, so there was some level of connection there. Adderley will now, however, re-enter an NFL wilderness that can often be cold and unfeeling.
Hopefully this initial setback doesn't stop his comeback entirely.
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