UVA alum, Colts rookie Woods makes a name for himself with pair of TDs in win over Chiefs

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Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 27, 2022, 7:54 pm

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By Scott Ratcliffe

Photo: Indianapolis Colts

A star is in the making, as former Virginia tight end Jelani Woods made quite a splash on Sunday, playing in just his third NFL regular-season contest. The Indianapolis rookie caught just two passes on the day, but each counted for six points, including the game-winning touchdown grab with just 24 seconds left, as the Colts held on for a 20-17 win over Kansas City.

Woods, who was taken in the third round of this year’s draft, is quickly making a name for himself on the big stage after not seeing a target the first two weeks of the season, and he was the toast of the town around Indy this weekend after recording his first two career TD receptions.

Woods became the Colts’ first rookie tight end to haul in two or more touchdowns in a game since 1963. His first trip to the promised land was the result of a Chiefs muffed punt on the game’s opening drive. After a pair of short Jonathan Taylor carries, Woods secured a 1-yard catch in the back of the end zone to put Indianapolis on the scoreboard with 12:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Then, in crunch time with the game on the line, the 6-foot-7 rookie was able to get past another former Wahoo, Kansas City safety Juan Thornhill, for a 12-yard score over the middle, as Lucas Oil Stadium went bananas.

“We practiced it all week,” Woods said of his game-winning catch. “It went really well, we executed it in practice, so it was just the moment to execute it live in the game. And it was a big moment, trying to win the game, pretty much.”

A native of the Atlanta area, Woods’ first two career touchdown receptions had a little extra meaning, too, as he explained, coming from former longtime Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, now in his first year with the Colts. “All of my family back home, I know they’re going crazy right now,” said Woods. “Just growing up [watching Ryan] and having that moment of winning a game catching a pass from him, that was just a dream come true… It’s crazy, pretty much, just being able to have that opportunity to contribute as much as possible.”

Woods — who admitted that the first jersey he ever owned was a Matt Ryan (Falcons) one — said he was happy that his new QB had the trust in him to “throw it up to me and try to make a play.”

Thornhill also showed tremendous class after getting beat on the deciding play, publicly praising Woods on his Twitter account after the game.

“Hell of a play @jelani_thegreat,” Thornhill’s tweet read, “much respect from one Hoo to another.”

Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich was also extremely impressed with Woods’ performance, and knows he’s now got a big, reliable red-zone target with tons of potential to get the ball to. Reich admitted that he felt Woods would be able to make an immediate impact when the Colts drafted him back in April.

“That’s the player we expect Jelani to be, make the big play,” Reich said of Woods. “He’s a big man, and he’s fast.”

In the locker room after the win (the Colts’ first of the season), Reich called out for Woods to address his teammates. “Jelani Woods, welcome to the NFL!” the coach exclaimed, followed by a loud roar.

Woods responded with a mini-speech that concluded with: “We’re going to the moon, it’s just step one right now.”

Reich insisted that Indianapolis needs to give Woods more opportunities to make plays as the season progresses, so stay tuned.