The Colts are heading into a 2026 season loaded with pressure, uncertainty and very little room for error. Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard know what’s hanging over this year, and if Indianapolis wants to avoid an ugly finish, a few things have to go right.
Health sits at the center of it all. Daniel Jones’ recovery from an Achilles injury is one of the biggest storylines, while the team also needs its aging defensive line and brittle secondary to hold up over the long haul. In a season where the margin for mistakes is tiny, these three predictions could end up telling the whole story.
Daniel Jones plays all 17 games
For most teams, that would barely qualify as a prediction. For the Colts, it would be a major win. Indianapolis hasn’t had the same quarterback start every game of a 17-game season since Carson Wentz did it in 2021, which is why simply keeping Jones upright would matter so much.
Jones enters the first year of a very lucrative “prove it” deal, and he’s coming off the best football he played in his first season with Coach Steichen. The Colts are hoping he becomes the league’s next major redemption story, in the mold of Sam Darnold. Reports say he looks sharp and ready after the Achilles injury, and in 2026, availability may be his biggest strength.
Sauce Gardner finishes with 5+ interceptions
There’s no question Sauce Gardner is one of the league’s premier coverage defenders. The issue has never been his ability to stick with receivers.
It’s been the takeaway production. He didn’t record an interception in 11 games last season, even while continuing to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
That could change in 2026. Gardner has said he wants to take a big step forward in that area and help create more turnovers for Lou Anarumo’s defense. He’s back to full strength, and with his athleticism, length and close-out speed, he has the skill set to turn that goal into reality.
CJ Allen becomes a late-season difference-maker
CJ Allen didn’t exactly hit the ground running as an offseason addition. An injury kept him out during training camp, and his limited preseason work was rough enough to leave plenty of questions. At this stage, he’s still well behind where the Colts probably hoped he’d be.
Even so, there’s still a path for him to matter in a big way. Once he catches up and gets comfortable, Allen has the chance to become a defensive anchor in the middle. He may not do much early in the year, but the Colts could get a major lift once the coaching staff decides he’s ready for a larger role.
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 🡒]