The Indianapolis Colts had another chance to patch their biggest problem, and it slipped away.
Von Miller is headed to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Indianapolis still staring at the same issue that showed up all last season: a pass rush that just doesn’t consistently threaten anyone. Laiatu Latu was the one edge rusher who could provide any real sustained success, and even after preseason Week 1, that weakness looked just as obvious as ever.
The Colts’ showing against the New England Patriots offered little pressure, and while Indianapolis was working with backups, the depth behind the starters isn’t much better. In fact, the source material points to the group being close to the level of one projected starter, Arden Key. That’s not the kind of room that inspires confidence.
Miller would have fit the need. He may be 37, but he still put up nine sacks for the Washington Commanders last season and remains strong against the run.
A one-year deal would have been enough to make sense for Indianapolis, especially given how badly the edge spot needs help. Instead, Miller is joining Dallas, just as Jadeveon Clowney landed with the Houston Texans, putting two high-end outside linebackers on Texas teams while the Colts come away empty.
That result lands right back on Chris Ballard. The Colts’ general manager has watched plenty of useful players go elsewhere this offseason and in training camp, and this latest miss fits the pattern. The article is blunt about his record, too: Ballard has been in the job since the 2017 offseason, the team has made the playoffs only twice since then, hasn’t been there since 2020, and has never won the AFC South under him.
There’s still no sign the Colts are built to change that in 2026, either. A move like Miller could have altered the picture. Instead, Indianapolis is left with the same weak spot, the same frustration, and another reminder that the help it needs keeps signing somewhere else.
In Other News...
Tyler Warren's Sudden Exit Has Colts Fans Watching One Big Concern
Tyler Warrens training camp momentum hit an early snag when the Colts tight end left an 11-on-11 practice rep with a groin injury and did not return. He was seen walking off the field with a noticeable limp, a sight that immediately shifted attention from his camp progress to his availability, especially with the team still sorting through the early days of preseason.
The Colts have not offered an official update yet, but the expectation is that they will take the cautious route and keep Warren out of the upcoming preseason game against the Falcons. For a player trying to establish himself in a new setting, even a short absence can matter, and the bigger question now is how quickly he can get back on the field without the issue lingering. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face Two Tough Roster Calls As Cutdown Day Nears
The roster squeeze is starting to show for the Colts as the 53-player deadline approaches, and a recent projection from James Boyd of The Athletic put a couple of recognizable names on the bubble. Running back DJ Giddens and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery were both listed among the notable players who could be left out when the final group is set, a reminder that late August is less about upside and more about how quickly a player can stay available and fit what the staff wants.
Giddens has spent training camp dealing with a hamstring issue, which has made it hard for him to build momentum, while Tillery is trying to hold off a crowded interior line group that includes Colby Wooden and his positional flexibility. For a team trying to sort out the back end of the roster, those are the kinds of calls that can come down to health, depth and who gives the Colts the cleanest answer in more than one spot. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Is Giving Colts Fans A Reason To Reconsider Ballard
Daniel Jones arrived at Colts training camp carrying plenty of skepticism, and not just because of the move from his old team. Chris Ballards decision to bring him in on a two-year contract came with the obvious caution flag of a major injury, but the early signs out of camp have been hard to ignore. Teammates and even former coaches have taken note as Jones has begun showing the kind of timing and movement that made him an intriguing fit in the first place.
What has really changed the conversation in Indianapolis is how normal Jones has looked in drills. After spending the offseason working back from the kind of injury that can alter a quarterbacks game, he has reportedly been sharp with the ball and comfortable enough on his feet to ease some of the concern around his recovery. For a Colts front office that staked something on this bet, every positive practice rep makes the original call look a little more reasonable. [Read more 🡒]