Albert Breer sees plenty to like about the Indianapolis Colts heading into 2026, but he also flagged one issue that could swing the season in a hurry: depth.
Before getting to the warning sign, the Sports Illustrated NFL insider laid out why he thinks this roster has a real chance to be good. Breer pointed to Shane Steichen’s offensive creativity, Daniel Jones’ strong play before his injury last season, Jonathan Taylor’s status as one of the league’s top running backs and Tyler Warren’s upside at tight end. He also highlighted the receiver pairing of Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, a better-looking offensive line, and Lou Anarumo’s presence on defense with what Breer called an elite secondary and a really solid defensive line.
“I like a lot of things about the Colts,” Breer began. “Shane Steichen is one of the sport’s best offensive architects, and Daniel Jones was playing great ball before he got hurt last season.
Jonathan Taylor is one of the game’s best backs, and Tyler Warren is going to be a monster at tight end. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs complement each other really well at receiver, the O-line should be better and Lou Anarumo is one of the game’s best defensive coordinators, and he has an elite secondary and a really solid defensive line to work with.”
The concern comes when the conversation shifts from starters to the players behind them. Breer said the Colts’ depth at pass rusher, cornerback and along the offensive line could be a problem, and that was something the preseason already helped expose.
That leaves Indianapolis in a spot where health matters a lot. Breer’s view is that the Colts are counting on staying upright, and that’s a risky way to build a season.
“ I’m concerned with their depth,” wrote Breer. “An injury or two in the wrong spot and the context of the season could change completely, as could the future of some key people in the organization.”
So while Breer clearly believes there’s a path for the Colts to succeed in 2026, he also made it plain that the margin for error is slim.
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 🡒]