Shane Steichen has never really been the issue in Indianapolis on offense. The Colts head coach has already shown he can build one of those units that looks dangerous every week, and that’s why the bigger question around him has always been less about play-calling and more about whether he’s the right man to run the whole show.
That debate has hung around because the results have been stuck in the middle. Steichen is 25-26 in three seasons with the Colts, and each year has ended the same way in the standings: 9-8 or 8-9. Good enough to keep the conversation alive, not good enough to shut it down.
A big reason is simple. Indianapolis hasn’t had a defense good enough to carry its weight.
Lou Anarumo was hired before last season to fix that side of the ball, but he ran into the same problem Steichen did: the injuries piled up, and the depth behind them wasn’t strong enough. Too many important players were unavailable for too long, and the whole unit paid for it.
That picture looks different heading into 2026.
The Colts enter the season with a defense that is finally healthy, and that matters especially for cornerback Sauce Gardner, who is set to play a full season with Indianapolis for the first time. Gardner came over in a trade in the middle of last season, but a calf problem limited him to four of eight possible games. Now he’s ready to go for Week 1.
So is defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, who missed a big chunk of last year because of a neck injury. And there’s hope that fellow cornerback Charvarius Ward will be available as well after dealing with a back issue through training camp and the preseason.
That gives Steichen and Anarumo something they didn’t really have last year: the kind of defensive personnel that can actually make the scheme matter.
In fact, this could be the best group Anarumo has ever had as a defensive coordinator. He’s already proven to be a strong DC, and with better players around him, the Colts have a chance to see what that really looks like.
That could end up being the difference for Steichen. The offense should still be productive and explosive if Daniel Jones, back from his own season-ending injury, and Jonathan Taylor stay healthy. Even if wide receiver Alec Pierce takes a while to fully return from offseason ankle surgery, Steichen should still be able to put together a plan that gives Indianapolis a playoff-caliber attack.
If the defense holds up too, the Colts have a real chance to be good enough to matter. And if they miss the playoffs, Steichen could be out the door along with general manager Chris Ballard.
But if this healthier version of the defense delivers, it could do more than help the Colts win games now. It could keep Steichen in Indianapolis beyond 2026 and give the franchise a path to something more stable down the line.
In Other News...
Colts Just Sent A Clear Message With This Late Roster Shakeup
The Colts made a late roster tweak this week, moving offensive tackle Luke Tenuta from the practice squad onto the 53-man roster and waiving cornerback Jaylon Jones to open the spot. Its the kind of transaction that can get overlooked on a busy roster sheet, but it points to where Indianapolis wanted a little more security heading into the stretch run: the backup tackle group.
Tenuta gives the Colts added depth behind the starting offensive line, while the corresponding practice-squad move brought in tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr. to fill the vacancy. Small as it may seem, the shuffle says plenty about how the team is trying to balance protection up front with the flexibility to keep the rest of the roster stocked. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Made A Secondary Decision Fans Didn't See Coming
The Colts kept tweaking the bottom of the roster by moving offensive tackle Luke Tenuta up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a shift that opened a spot for the team to make another pass at its depth. To keep the practice squad balanced, Indianapolis also brought in free agent tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr., an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers who made his college move from defensive end to tight end.
The move that stands out most is on the other side of the ball, where the Colts waived cornerback Jaylon Jones, a two-year starter for the team before this latest shake-up. Tenuta brings prior NFL stops with the Bills, Packers and Cardinals, but Jones departure adds a layer of intrigue because it trims from a position group that has mattered for Indianapolis, and it leaves one more roster question hanging as the team sorts out what it wants its secondary to look like next. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Secondary Draws Fresh Scrutiny Right Before The Opener
The Colts secondary is getting a little unwanted attention as the season opener approaches, with two defensive backs landing on the NFLs fine list for preseason infractions. Cam Taylor-Britt was hit for unnecessary roughness on a tackle in the finale against the Lions, while Trey Washington was fined for a facemask in a preseason game against the Falcons, adding a late-week reminder that discipline has been part of the conversation around this group.
The bigger issue for Indianapolis is the timing. Taylor-Britt is already set to miss the opener because of a separate suspension tied to a violation of the leagues personal conduct policy, leaving the Colts to sort out their back end without one of its most recognizable defenders. For a unit trying to settle in before the games start counting, the added fines only underscore how little margin there is for error. [Read more 🡒]