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- Mar 19, 2019
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» Nelson becomes just the seventh player since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to be named First-Team All-Pro in their first two seasons, and is the first since the Bears’ Devin Hester in 2006-07.
He is also just the fourth NFL offensive lineman to earn First-Team All-Pro honors in his first two seasons, and is the first since Dick Huffman of the Los Angeles Rams in 1947-48.
Also a Pro Bowl selection for a second straight year, the 23-year-old Nelson dominated in 2019. He was Pro Football Focus’ second-ranked offensive lineman (91.2 overall grade); his pass-blocking grade of 82.8 ranked 14th among all qualifying offensive linemen and sixth among guards, while his 90.1 run-blocking grade ranked third among all linemen and second among guards.
Nelson went the entire season without allowing a single sack from the left guard position, according to PFF, while he was penalized just three times. He also helped pave the way for a Colts running attack that ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards per game (133.1).
“Q is unique, man – not only as a player but as a teammate,” Ballard said of Nelson on Thursday. “I love going in the locker room — you hate it after the losses — but when you see this kid’s care factor, it’s like somebody shot him when things don’t go well for us. It is a deep hurt and it’s infectious. So (we’re) fortunate to have him and he’ll continue to get better – he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet.”
Nelson is the seventh Colts player to earn multiple First-Team All-Pro selections since the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984; he joins a list that includes running back Eric Dickerson, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, safety Bob Sanders, quarterback Peyton Manning, center Jeff Saturday and defensive end Dwight Freeney.