The Colts are heading into Week 1 with a linebacker picture that looks more like a puzzle than a plan.
That matters immediately, because Baltimore and Lamar Jackson are the kind of opening test that can expose every weak spot in a defense. If Indianapolis doesn’t get enough from the middle of the field, Jackson can carve it up.
If the edge rush doesn’t land, he’ll have time to pick apart even a strong secondary. The Colts don’t have the luxury of easing into this one.
They’re going to learn fast what this group is.
Chris Ballard didn’t do much to reinforce the edge this offseason. Kwity Paye, the 2022 first-round pick, left in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Colts brought in Arden Key as the replacement.
At best, that’s a wash. Indianapolis did add a pair of late-round pass rushers, but Caden Curry is more of a defensive end than an outside linebacker, while George Gumbs Jr. brings a hybrid profile as someone who can work at end or linebacker.
Inside, the uncertainty may be even sharper.
Laiatu Latu was terrific on the outside last season and could be even better in 2026, giving the Colts at least one linebacker they can feel good about. But the same confidence doesn’t exist for the off-ball group. Indianapolis moved Zaire Franklin and his poor pass coverage skills this offseason to the Green Bay Packers, and there wasn’t an obvious successor waiting in the wings.
Instead, the Colts used two first-four-round picks on off-ball linebackers. Second-rounder CJ Allen has already been slowed by two injuries, which cost him a lot of training camp reps and some preseason action.
Even when he’s been back on the field more recently, he hasn’t stood out. He’s likely to get some snaps in Week 1, but he doesn’t look like the favorite to start.
Fourth-round pick Bryce Boettcher has had the better camp and preseason of the two rookies, and he has a better path to starting. Still, he’s a rookie, and Lou Anarumo may be reluctant to throw him into his first NFL game against Lamar Jackson in that role.
That could leave the Colts leaning on veterans Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies when they line up against the Ravens. More likely than not, Indianapolis will mix and match at inside linebacker throughout the game.
And that’s the problem. No matter who gets the call, the Colts need this group to hold up against Jackson. If it doesn’t, Week 1 could get away from them in a hurry.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Made His Colts Future A Lot More Intriguing
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Anthony Richardsons Colts Future Looks Different After Latest QB Decision
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Richardson, who had asked for a trade earlier in the offseason, ultimately earned the QB2 job with his preseason work and appears ready to handle the role for now. He said he was grateful for the chance and focused on helping the team, not chasing a move elsewhere at this point, leaving the Colts with a quarterback setup that answers one question while keeping another very much in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Colts May Finally Have A Real Answer Across From Laiatu Latu
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Help could be on the horizon in the 2027 NFL Draft, where edge rushers are expected to be a priority and several prospects are already being viewed as possible early-round fits. For a team that has been waiting for a real complement to Latu, the draft may be the cleanest path to finally finding a player who can make offenses account for both edges on a consistent basis. [Read more 🡒]