Kareem Hunt. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Colts make last-minute push for former rushing leader

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 8/8/23

Not long after ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that former NFL rushing leader Kareem hunt was going to sign with the New Orleans Saints, the 28-year-old pulled a Lee Corso and hit everyone with a “not so fast, my friend.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hunt didn’t sign with the Saints and is instead heading to Indianapolis on Wednesday to meet with the Colts, who reportedly contacted Hunt before his visit with New Orleans and offered a lucrative offer.

How about this twist?

RB Kareem Hunt was called by Indy before he even stepped foot on the field to work out for the Saints and was offered more money, per source.

He was advised to leave and head to Indy with the Colts for a visit. https://t.co/J5Bx8KMmsU
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) August 8, 2023

Hunt rushed for a league-leading 1,327 yards as a rookie in 2017 but hasn’t had the same success since. His last start came on Oct. 17, 2021, against the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s started just eight games over the last four seasons.

However, the Colts' relationship with star running back Jonathan Taylor is on the rocks, and the team could be looking for another back to compete with Kenyon Drake and Zack Moss for first-team reps with Taylor sidelined during training camp and serious questions about whether he’s played his last down for Indy.

Had Hunt signed with New Orleans, he would have added some much-needed depth to the RB position as the Saints are down to six-year veteran Jamaal Williams and rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller after Alvin Kamara was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 season and Eno Benjamin tore his Achilles during camp.

Williams posted his first 1,000-yard season last year with the Detroit Lions while leading the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns — a single-season mark that passed Barry Sanders for the most in Lions history.

Miller rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns last year at TCU, helping the Horned Frogs to the national championship game. The Saints have been using Miller throughout minicamp and training camp in packages similar to the ones they use for Kamara with the goal of Miller picking up his slack while he serves his three-game suspension.

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