Steichen sees Keenan Allen as the 'cerebral' piece to elevate Daniel Jones and the Colts offense

The Colts' most notable offensive addition has yet to take a preseason snap with the starters, but head coach Shane Steichen already believes Keenan Allen is built to click with quarterback Daniel Jones.

Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, was not on the field for Wednesday's joint practice with the Falcons as he continues ramping up after signing, but Steichen spent part of the day talking up what the veteran receiver will bring to Indianapolis. The coach called Allen "the most cerebral receiver" he has worked with in the NFL — the two were together with the Chargers from 2014 to 2020 — because Allen "sees the game like a quarterback." Steichen thinks that shared processing will make Allen a natural complement to Jones under center.

"It's going to be real fun," Steichen said, via the Colts' team website. "Those conversations that those guys are going to have, just the ins and outs on how to run routes, what they're looking at through a game plan week, going into game sideline adjustments. I think that's going to be a really smooth transition with those two." Allen arrived in Indy late Monday and was expected to practice Thursday, giving the Colts a proven route-runner to pair with Jones as the franchise reshapes its receiving corps around the veteran signal-caller.