The Colts have six training camp practices in the books, and the defensive picture is starting to sharpen. There’s still plenty of time for players to climb the ladder over the next several weeks of practices and three preseason games, but some of the early pecking order is already coming into focus.
Up front, Laiatu Latu and Arden Key appear to be the top two edge options, with Key getting the bulk of the first-team reps over Jaylahn Tuimoloau. Behind them, Micheal Clemons, Caden Curry, George Gumbs Jr., Durell Nchami and Mitchell Melton are part of the mix, with Curry and Gumbs often working with the third-team defense.
At defensive tackle, DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart sit at the top, followed by Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi, Tim Smith and Cameron Ball. The most interesting fight there is Tillery versus Nnadi, who could be battling for one roster spot. Nnadi has also been out recently with a toe injury.
Linebacker is where things get murky. CJ Allen is expected to start, but Akeem Davis-Gaither and Bryce Boettcher are still duking it out for the job next to him.
Austin Ajiake, Jaylon Carlies, West Weeks, Tahj Chambers and Devin Versuk round out the group. It’s been tough to tell who has the edge in that starting competition, and Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan recently pointed to Ajiake over Carlies at this stage.
The cornerback group has a lot of moving parts. Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward and Justin Walley sit at the top, followed by Cam Taylor-Britt, Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards, Jaylon Jones, Robert Carter Jr., Jai'Onte' McMillan and Mekhi Rodgers.
Taylor-Britt, Blackmon, Edwards and Jones may be fighting for three roster spots. Taylor-Britt brings familiarity with Anarumo’s defense from Cincinnati, Blackmon logged more than 700 defensive snaps in 2025, Edwards offers upside, and Jones has had trouble finding his footing in the scheme.
At safety, Cam Bynum leads the way with Hunter Wohler and AJ Haulcy behind him, followed by Jonathan Owens, Juanyeh Thomas, Daniel Scott, Austin Brown and Trey Washington. Wohler is currently injured, but he had been starting next to Bynum through the first few practices.
Owens has started to stand out as a potential special teams piece, while Thomas looks like he could be on the roster bubble. The Colts have carried just four safeties in the past.
In Other News...
Colts Camp Battles Are Starting To Reveal Some Real Early Winners
Six practices into training camp, the Colts are already getting a clearer picture of where their offensive depth chart may be headed. The early battles are spread across the roster, with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson competing for the backup quarterback job, DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan working for the No. 2 role at running back, and a crowded receiver group trying to sort out the pecking order behind the top names.
The wideout competition has been one of the more watchable parts of camp, especially with WR3 and other depth spots still up for grabs. Tight end and offensive line also remain active areas of evaluation, and while the first week-plus of work has started to separate some players from the pack, there is still plenty of time for those roles to shift as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Boettcher Is Making The Colts Face A Tough Camp Decision
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What makes the situation interesting is how much of the battle is still unresolved, even with Boettcher drawing strong reviews. Indianapolis has a veteran option in Akeem Davis-Gaither, who brings more NFL experience and familiarity with the defensive coordinator, so this is not simply a case of a young player running away with a job. The Colts like what they have seen so far, but the final call at linebacker is still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Pittman Just Added To A Tough Colts Daniel Jones Debate
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Pittmans departure also lands in the middle of a bigger conversation about Jones, who played through major injuries last season and then got rewarded with a new contract. Even after being moved, Pittman made it clear he still holds Jones in high regard, which only sharpens the debate around how Indianapolis views its quarterback and what kind of standard the organization believes is worth paying for. [Read more 🡒]