The Ravens’ latest offensive line wrinkle could hand the Colts a real opening up front.
According to first-year head coach Jessie Minter, Baltimore will go with Jovaughn Gwyn at center instead of Ethan Pocic. That’s not exactly the kind of stability you want when Lamar Jackson is trying to get the offense rolling.
Gwyn arrived in Baltimore earlier this offseason after originally entering the league as a 2023 seventh-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons. He was in the mix for the starting center job with Pocic and former Colts backup center Danny Pinter, but Pinter was lost for the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in a late August training camp practice.
The 27-year-old Gwyn has played in 19 NFL games over his three-year career, all with Atlanta, and he has never made a start. Now he’s being asked to step into that role in his first season with the Ravens.
That matters even more because Baltimore is also expected to start rookie right guard Vega Ioane, a talented 2026 first-round pick. Put those two together, and the Ravens are looking at a pretty inexperienced interior line.
That’s where the Colts can make life uncomfortable. DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart give Indianapolis a veteran presence inside, and Ade Adebawore can add pressure as a subpackage interior rusher with his first-step twitch, quickness, and explosiveness.
If the Colts can keep Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ run game in check while also forcing Jackson to deal with heat from the interior, that would go a long way toward getting Indianapolis off to a 1-0 start.
In Other News...
Colts Rookie Class Is Already Creating A Few Tough Early Decisions
The Colts rookie class has already forced its way into the early roster conversation, and not just because all eight of their 2026 draft picks plus one undrafted free agent made the 53-man roster. For a team trying to build reliable depth around a few established pieces, that kind of retention says a lot about both the front offices evaluation and how quickly the rookies have made themselves part of the picture.
The trick now is figuring out where everyone fits once the season gets rolling. Linebackers CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher are expected to open as backups, but their rotational roles are still unsettled, while safety A.J. Haulcys injury situation could change the plan at the back end of the defense. On offense, Seth McGowan has already done enough to lock down the direct backup job behind Jonathan Taylor, which leaves Indianapolis with one of those good problems every team wants early in the year, even if the answers are still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Week 1 Boost Baltimore Had To Notice
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Shane Steichen said Pierce is feeling good and will keep getting more reps before the game, which gives Indianapolis a welcome boost at a time when opening-night readiness matters. Whether Pierce is fully back to his usual workload right away is still the question, but the Colts have at least put themselves in position to have him available when the Ravens arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Got An AFC South Reality Check Fans Wont Like
The AFC South is shaping up as a division with a clear top tier, and the latest roster ranking does not flatter Indianapolis. Houston comes out first, Jacksonville is close behind, and the Colts land third, ahead of only Tennessee in a breakdown that weighs overall talent, coaching impact, and how much uncertainty each team still carries. For a club trying to push back into the playoff mix, that kind of placement is a reminder that the division race may be tighter than it looks on paper.
The Colts still have pieces worth building around, but the concerns are hard to ignore, especially when it comes to health and depth. Houston brings its own questions on offense, yet the Texans were still viewed as the strongest roster in the division, while Jacksonvilles place near the top only adds to the pressure in Indianapolis. In a four-team race where every edge matters, the Colts are being asked to prove they belong in the conversation rather than simply hoping the rest of the AFC South slips. [Read more 🡒]