It wasn’t long ago that Zaire Franklin and E. J.
Speed were piling up more than 1,000 snaps apiece for the Indianapolis Colts at linebacker. That feels like another era now.
With both of those veterans gone, Lou Anarumo is expected to lean on free-agent addition Akeem Gaither-Davis and rookies C.J. Allen and Bryce Boettcher as the main pieces in the middle of the defense.
That leaves one more spot in the linebacker room, and it has become a real fight between two young Colts: Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake.
Carlies entered the year looking like the most obvious returning option after Speed left in free agency following the 2024 season. He had played the third-most snaps among Colts linebackers last year, though a midseason absence kept that total down to 242, which was barely 20% of the defense’s plays.
With Grant Stuard also gone, Carlies seemed positioned to step into a bigger role. Then a preseason ankle injury derailed that path and pushed Anarumo to keep looking.
Ajiake’s route has been different. During Carlies’ rookie season, he was still grinding on the practice squad, trying to get a shot at an NFL game. He had already bounced around a few other practice squads before landing in Indianapolis in 2024, but he never got onto the field that season.
Last year, though, the door finally opened. Carlies’ injury helped create the opportunity, and Ajiake made the most of it by becoming a key special teams contributor and an occasional linebacker fill-in.
Now both players are healthy, and the competition looks direct. Indianapolis is expected to carry four inside linebackers on the final roster. Davis-Gaither, Allen, and Boettcher are virtually locked in, which leaves one spot up for grabs.
It’s a tough one to call because the two players bring a lot of the same things to the table. Carlies has the size and length advantage, and he was the Colts’ fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Ajiake, meanwhile, came into the league as an undrafted player. But Carlies still hasn’t separated himself in one clear area, while Ajiake proved last season that he can help on special teams.
That was on display again in Thursday’s preseason opener against New England. Neither linebacker was especially sharp against the run, but both looked solid in coverage.
That part of Carlies’ game was always expected; he played safety in college. Ajiake has also shown he can handle zone responsibilities and finish tackles cleanly.
Either one could eventually settle into a coverage-oriented role, especially as NFL defenses keep valuing linebackers who can drop into deeper zones. Both could also have a path as a big nickel safety in certain run-pass packages. But the final call may come down to special teams, and that’s where Ajiake could have the edge.
There’s one more wrinkle in all of this: the health of C.J. Allen. That situation matters beyond this particular roster battle, because the rookie is expected to play a major role in a defense that has been heavily reshaped.
Five of last year’s starters, along with several key backups, are no longer on the roster. If Allen’s injury issues linger, it could create room for both Carlies and Ajiake to survive the cut and make the initial 53.
Still, this looks like a straightforward showdown in the end. Carlies should be the better coverage linebacker.
Ajiake should be stronger on special teams. Whichever player can close that gap may be the one suiting up on Sundays, while the other lands on the practice squad.
In Other News...
Colts Backup O-Line Battle Is Heating Up At The Right Time
The Colts have kept busy along the offensive line, bringing in veteran guard Will Hernandez along with tackles Trey Wedig and DAnte Smith for workouts as they look to sort through their backup options. Hernandez, 30, brings experience from his time with the Giants and Cardinals, while Wedig and Smith come in as younger tackle options with backgrounds tied to the Rams, Cardinals and Bengals organizations.
For a team trying to stay sturdy up front, these evaluations matter even in the margins. Indianapolis is still weighing how those pieces fit, and the timing suggests the Colts are trying to add depth before any real need turns into a problem. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add Proven WR As Pressure Builds Around Injury Concerns
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Alec Pierces ankle injury has made that need even more apparent, with his status lingering as a concern as training camp unfolds. Allens arrival gives the Colts a steady option to lean on while they wait for more clarity at receiver, and his career production, 1,055 catches, 12,051 yards and 70 touchdowns, is the kind of track record that makes the move feel like more than just insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Linebacker Battle Is Heating Up After An Encouraging Start
Shane Steichen had reason to come away encouraged after the Colts first preseason game against New England, especially with how the linebacker group handled itself. The unit was active from the start, stayed engaged against the run and generally kept the Patriots from finding much easy room underneath, which is exactly the kind of early preseason baseline a coaching staff wants while sorting out a young, rotating position group.
The competition behind the expected starters remains the bigger storyline, with CJ Allen and Akeen Davis-Gaither positioned to open the year in front while the rest of the room keeps pushing for reserve snaps. Bryce Boettcher, Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake all helped make the case that the depth chart could still shift, and the next few weeks should reveal whether that opening performance was a one-night flash or the start of a real battle. [Read more 🡒]