Ahmad Bradshaw is the dual threat Colts need

Poor Brooks Reed, the Atlanta Falcons’ veteran outside linebacker.

He must have been so pleased to have slid past Ahmad Bradshaw, one of the NFL’s best-blocking tailbacks, in last weekend’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Except Bradshaw wasn’t really blocking on that play — it was a bluff — and as Reed stumbled past in pursuit of Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Bradshaw slipped into free space.

One chest pass later, Bradshaw cradled the ball, started running and easily followed right tackle Joe Reitz into the end zone for a 7-yard, second-quarter touchdown for the Colts’ first points.

It’s an example of how the league isn’t sure what to do with the veteran running back.

Is he blocking? Is he not?

Even the Colts are conflicted. Run him? Or find him in the passing game?

The latter should be easy. He is often standing in anticipation of a throw.

“Now that I think about it, you’re right,” Hasselbeck said as the Colts went through preparations for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter was known for catching touchdown passes. Well, Bradshaw has become the Colts’ version of that.

Last year, Bradshaw was leading all NFL running backs with six receiving scores when he injured his leg in Week 10. This season, he didn’t join the Colts’ roster until Week 6, but he already has three such scores, which has him tied for second on the team behind Donte Moncrief’s five.

Does Ahmad Bradshaw give Colts the rushing combination they've lacked?

Bradshaw caught two Hasselbeck passes for touchdowns in Atlanta, and he was wide open on another play. That’s his new norm, leading Hasselbeck to describe three different ways it happened last weekend.

“The first touchdown was a designed (middle) screen, an old Edgerrin James-type of play,” the quarterback said. “Ahmad’s a good blocker and (Reed) went to hit him real hard, stumbled and whiffed. But he had to respect Ahmad as a blocker.”

Bradshaw added a 2-yard catch-and-score in the third quarter, and he would have accomplished the same thing on the play prior had Hasselbeck seen him soon enough.

“On the play he scored on, he’s got a free release (from the backfield),” Hasselbeck said. “He’s No. 1 (choice) in the progression.

“There are five guys in the progression, and he’s (No. 1), Donte is two, the tight end is three, the guy over here is four and this guy is five. He’s the first look, and it was a good matchup for us.”

But the film showed Hasselbeck should have made Bradshaw the option on the previous play.

“It’s play-action, and we’re trying to hit Donte first, Andre (Johnson) second, and T.Y. (Hilton) third,” Hasselbeck said. “Ahmad’s sort of leaked out late and nobody went with him.

“I went to Donte, but it probably trickled into my mind knowing he had been open, but it wasn’t conscious.”

The Colts (5-5) re-signed Bradshaw when other options didn’t produce as Frank Gore’s sidekick. Those who follow Bradshaw on Instagram knew how prepared he was when the Colts called last month with a job offer.

“We all know how much Ahmad loves to play this game,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “He’s another guy that plays with great passion and great energy and toughness.”

Pagano said Bradshaw, who hasn’t been available for comment the past two days, is getting his legs back underneath him after not being invited to a training camp.

“He just keeps getting better with every week,” Pagano said. “He’s been a big part of our third-down package now. He’s the main guy in there.

“He does a great job in (protecting the quarterback). Then obviously he’s a threat out of the backfield as far as the check-down (passes) and the screen that he scored on.”

That’s the dilemma defenses face: Consider him a blocker or a receiver?

He’s both. Touchdowns prove it.

Follow Star reporter Curt Cavin on Twitter: @curtcavin

Colts take 'Boom' off waivers

The Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that they have claimed running back Daniel "Boom" Herron off waivers and released running back Zurlon Tipton.

Herron, who played for the Colts in 2013 and 2014, was waived-injured by the team on September 6, and waived from the Injured Reserve list on September 11. He was picked up by the Bills and played in four games for Buffalo before being waived on Wednesday.

Herron played in all 16 games for the Colts last season, making three starts. He carried the ball 78 times for 351 yards and a touchdown. He also had 21 catches for 173 yards. Herron started all three Colts playoff games last season, rushing for 170 yards on 45 attempts and two scores. He also added 20 receptions for 128 yards in the postseason.

Tipton signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He appeared in seven games for Indianapolis this season after being elevated to the active roster from the practice squad on Oct. 1. He rushed for nine yards on two attempts.

In the playoffs last season, Tipton rushed for 68 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown in the AFC Championship game.

— Manny Randhawa, Star producer