Phillip Lindsay (born July 24, 1994) is an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offen ...
who is a free agent. Lindsay was born in Denver, Colorado, grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and attended
South High School in Denver where he became the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,587 yards.
He played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at
the University of Colorado Boulder and set the school record in all-purpose yards (5,760) and yards from scrimmage (4,683). He was signed as an
undrafted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
by the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...
in 2018. Lindsay became the first undrafted offensive rookie to ever make the
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players.
The format has changed thro ...
.
High school career
Lindsay, like his father Troy, played running back in high school. At
South High School, Lindsay elected to wear the same jersey number as his father, 22. Playing for the Rebels, he chased the
Denver Public School District record for rushing yards (4,400), which was set by his father in 1979. After a successful first three years of high school, Lindsay committed to playing for the University of Colorado Boulder. Shortly after surpassing his father's rushing record during his senior season, Lindsay suffered a severe
ACL tear that brought an end to his high school career. Despite this injury,
Mike MacIntyre
George Michael MacIntyre (born March 14, 1965) is an American football coach. He is the head coach at FIU. MacIntyre served as the head football coach at San Jose State University from 2010 to 2013 and the University of Colorado Boulder from 2 ...
, Colorado's coach, upheld the school's scholarship offer for the 2013 season. Apart from football, Lindsay also lettered in
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
as a freshman, and lettered all four years in
track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...
, where he ran sprints and relays and had personal bests of 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.2 in the 200 and 49.0 in the 400.
College career
Lindsay joined the Colorado team during the fall of 2013. He opted to
redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Red Shirts'' (film), a 1952 film about Anita Garibaldi by Franco Rossi
* Redshirt (stock character), originally derived from ''Star Trek'', a stock character who dies soon after b ...
during the 2013 season, during which time his work on the practice squad earned him the honor of "Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year."
2014 season
Before the 2014 season began, Coach MacIntyre began calling Lindsay the "Tasmanian Devil" due to his quickness and determination on the field. As a backup running back and
kick returner
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another position ...
back during the season, Lindsay played in all 12 of the school's games. He led the team in kick returns and return yards and finished fourth on the team overall in rushing yards. Lindsay averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his 79 carries of the season.
2015 season
Like the 2014 season, Lindsay saw action in all of the Buffaloes' games. He led the team in rushing attempts (140) and rushing yards (643), averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Lindsay scored seven touchdowns during the season, six rushing and one receiving. Despite only being a sophomore, Lindsay was elected by his teammates and coaches to be a
team captain
In team sport, captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. In eithe ...
.
2016 season
During the 2016 season, he rushed for 1,252 yards on 244 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per carry.
2017 season
During his senior season in 2017, he rushed for a career-high 281 yards against Arizona. During the 2017 regular season, he ranked ninth among all Division I FBS players with 1,474 rushing yards. Lindsay finished the 2017 season with the most rushing attempts (301) in
Division I play. He was selected as a semifinalist for the
Doak Walker Award
Since 1990 the Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football in the United States. It is named in honor of Doak Walker, a former running back who played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 to 1949 and in the National Football League ...
for the nation's top running back.
Lindsay set the Colorado career record for all-purpose yards and yards from scrimmage and ranked second in school history in rushing yardage and fifth in points scored.
College statistics
Professional career
Denver Broncos
2018
Lindsay signed with the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...
as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018. He made the Broncos' final roster after an impressive preseason, and was named the No. 3 running back on the depth chart behind third-round rookie
Royce Freeman
Royce Deion Freeman (born February 24, 1996) is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon.
High school career
Freeman attended Imperial High School in Im ...
and veteran
Devontae Booker
Devontae Booker (born May 27, 1992) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Utah. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Early years
Book ...
. In Week 1, against the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...
, he rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries and recorded two receptions for 31 yards and a receiving touchdown. The following week, in a 20–19 victory over the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...
, Lindsay ran for 107 yards and had one reception for four yards. He became the first undrafted player in NFL history with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of their first two games. During Week 3 against the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...
, Lindsay was ejected for throwing punches after a fumble. He was held to 20 rushing yards as the Broncos lost 14–27. In Week 4, against the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The tea ...
, Lindsay had 69 rushing yards and added another rushing touchdown. In Week 11, in a 23–22 victory over the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
, Lindsay recorded his first multi-rushing touchdown game. In a Week 12 victory over the
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...
, he had a season-high 110 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. In a Week 13 game against the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...
, he rushed for a career-high 157 yards and two touchdowns, earning him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
On December 18, 2018, Lindsay was voted to his first Pro Bowl making him the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to be voted to a Pro Bowl. On December 24, 2018, Lindsay, who injured his wrist against the Oakland Raiders, was placed on injured reserve ahead of the Broncos’ final season game. He finished his first season with 1,278 total yards (1,037 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards) from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns while splitting carries almost evenly with Royce Freeman. He was named to
PFWA's All-Rookie Team, becoming the fourth Denver Broncos running back to receive this award, joining
Bobby Humphrey
Bobby Gene Humphrey (born October 11, 1966) is a former professional American football player who played for the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Alabama.
Colleg ...
(1989),
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis (born October 28, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2001. He is the Broncos all-time leading rusher and ...
(1995), and
Olandis Gary
Olandis C. Gary (born May 18, 1975) is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos from 1999 to 2002 and the Detroit Lions from 2003 to 2004. He is an alumnus of the University of Georgia and Riverdale Baptist Scho ...
(1999). He was ranked 68th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2019
The NFL Top 100 Players of 2019 was the ninth season in the series. It premiered on July 22, 2019 and the final episode aired on July 31, 2019. It started later in the year, and the show was shown in 10 consecutive days instead. Los Angeles Rams d ...
.
2019
Lindsay made his return from injury in Week 1 against the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...
. In the game, Lindsay rushed 11 times for 43 yards and caught four passes for 23 yards in the 24-16 loss. In Week 3 against the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
, Lindsay rushed 21 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 49 yards as the Broncos lost 27-16. In Week 5 against the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
, Lindsay rushed 15 times for 114 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 33 yards as the Broncos won their first game of the season by a score of 20-13. In Week 16 against the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...
, Lindsay rushed 19 times for 109 yards and a touchdown during the 27–17 win. In the season finale against the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...
, Lindsay surpassed 1,000 yards rushing to become the first undrafted player in league history to do so in his first two seasons.
2020
In Week 1 against the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their h ...
, Lindsay rushed for 24 yards before exiting the game with a toe injury. Without Lindsay, the Broncos lost the game 16–14. Lindsay made his return from injury in Week 6 against the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
. During the game, Lindsay rushed for 101 yards during the 18–12 win. In Week 8 against the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
, Lindsay rushed 6 times for 83 yards (13.8 yards per carry) and his first rushing touchdown of the season during the 31–30 win. On December 26, 2020, Lindsay was placed on injured reserve. He finished the season with 118 carries for 502 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
The Broncos placed a
right of first refusal
Right of first refusal (ROFR or RFR) is a contractual right that gives its holder the option to enter a business transaction with the owner of something, according to specified terms, before the owner is entitled to enter into that transaction ...
(RFR)
restricted free agent
A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), or National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain ...
tender on Lindsay on March 16, 2021. However, on March 18, the Broncos rescinded the tender on Lindsay, making him a free agent.
Houston Texans
Lindsay signed with the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...
on March 30, 2021. He entered the 2021 season as the third running back on the depth chart behind
Mark Ingram II
Mark Valentino Ingram II (born December 21, 1989) is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was the first Alabama player to win the Heis ...
and
David Johnson. He played in 10 games before being released on November 23, 2021.
Miami Dolphins
The
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...
claimed Lindsay off waivers on November 24, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 88 carries for 249 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with four receptions for 45 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Indianapolis Colts
On May 18, 2022, Lindsay signed with the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
. He was released on August 30, 2022, but signed to the
practice squad
In sports, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. Frequently used in gridiron football, they serve as extra players during the team's practices, ...
a week later. He was elevated to the active roster on October 6 for the Colts' week 5 game against the Denver Broncos due to an injury to starting running back
Jonathan Taylor. On October 15, Lindsay was elevated to the active roster Lindsay was demoted to the practice squad on November 7,
then released from the Colts organization on November 10, replaced by
Jake Funk
Jake Funk (born January 11, 1998) is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland. In Maryland's four games during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, ...
.
NFL career statistics
References
Further reading
*
External links
Colorado Buffaloes bio*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindsay, Phillip
1994 births
Living people
Players of American football from Denver
Sportspeople from Aurora, Colorado
American football running backs
Colorado Buffaloes football players
Denver Broncos players
Houston Texans players
Miami Dolphins players
Indianapolis Colts players
American Conference Pro Bowl players