With training camp about a month away, the Colts’ offensive line is already shaping up as one of the more interesting spots to watch. The starting group looks fairly settled, but the real fight may be for the next man up at tackle.
Matt Goncalves should be in line to open the season as the Week 1 starter at right guard, even if rookie Jalen Farmer puts some pressure on him for snaps. Colts offensive line coach Tony Sparano sounds confident Goncalves is ready to take a leap in Year 2, which makes that competition feel more like background noise than a true open battle.
The more pressing question is who handles the swing tackle job behind the starters. Luke Tenuta, Blake Freeland and Nolan Rucci are the names to watch there, and all three will have a chance to make their case once camp gets rolling.
Freeland brings the most experience of the group, though that experience is mostly from 2023. He sat out all of last season because of an injury, which leaves some uncertainty around where he stands now.
Tenuta, meanwhile, was the first option off the bench by the end of the year, when Jalen Travis was starting. Rucci adds the most intriguing upside, but as a UDFA, he may need more time before he’s ready for a bigger role.
If you’re trying to pick a swing tackle today, it’s basically a toss-up. The lean here is Tenuta, simply because he’s the one of the three we’ve seen most recently at the NFL level.
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