For reasons unknown to most in the NFL world, South Carolina football alum Darius Rush was part of the NFL’s long list of roster casualties as he was waived from the Indianapolis Colts’ roster this week.
Rush didn’t have the greatest training camp with the Colts, but the former Gamecock was an elite producer in college and had the best combine of any cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft. He also returned an interception for a touchdown during the NFL preseason.
For whatever reason, none of that was enough for a Colts team that has a severe need for help at cornerback.
Jaylon Jones, the team’s 7th-round selection, had a good camp experience with the team and plays the same position (cornerback) as Rush. However, with Isaiah Rodgers officially gone after signing with the Eagles for when his gambling suspension is over, the team still needs help on the outside of the defense.
Fans of the AFC South team made known their displeasure with the decision to waive their 5th-round draft pick. There were many posts on Twitter (X?), but only a few were family-friendly.
“Tough cuts” isn’t keeping McTelvin Agim and Taven Bryan over Juwann Winfree and Darius Rush. Those aren’t “tough” decisions, they’re bad ones https://t.co/OCib6zGeBT
— John (@colts_report) August 29, 2023
Clearly, the #Colts saw something in Darius Rush to use a fifth-round pick on him. So after that and seeing some flashes in camp and preseason and being as desperate as they are at CB they still let him go and now he's off to KC. A complete waste of a draft pick by Ballard.
— Marc Dykton (@MarcD1075) August 30, 2023
While Rush was disappointed with the bad news that came his way, some good news followed in short order.
On Wednesday, the South Carolina football great was picked up on the waiver wire by the Kansas City Chiefs, last year’s Super Bowl champions.
Rush moves to a better team in Kansas City and to one that still has a need at cornerback. The majority of the team’s coverage players are young guys, so Rush will have an opportunity to compete when he arrives in KC.
Darius Rush joins fellow former Gamecock defensive back Rod Wilson, who serves on the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff as a defensive assistant. Wilson has won two Super Bowl rings with the franchise.