The Colts’ inside linebacker picture is already messy, and Week 1 just made it a little more interesting. Austin Ajiake has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, which opens the door for more work for rookie CJ Allen.
That matters because Indianapolis still doesn’t have a clean answer at the position. The expectation is that the Colts will rotate their off-ball linebackers against the Baltimore Ravens, a setup that isn’t exactly ideal when a defense is looking for stability. Still, the team has enough talent there that one optimistic read is simple: there are enough capable bodies to keep fresh players on the field.
Allen is the name to watch. Indianapolis took him with its first pick in the 2026 draft, after trading away its first-round selection to the New York Jets for Sauce Gardner.
Before a couple of injuries slowed him down, Allen had been trending toward the green dot in Lou Anarumo’s defense. During preseason rotation work, he was already handling play-calling duties, though he may not be ready for that responsibility in a real game just yet.
Ajiake’s absence changes the equation. He may not have been projected as the Week 1 starter - the Colts have not publicly locked that down, though Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies are likely options - but he was expected to get meaningful snaps. With him out, those reps have to go somewhere, and Allen is the player with the most to gain.
At Georgia, Allen made his name as a strong run defender and a solid coverage player. He wasn’t asked to generate much pressure there, and Anarumo probably won’t demand that from him often either. The Colts see him as a potential long-term fit, maybe even a future starter, but he’s not fully there yet.
That doesn’t mean he can’t matter right away. Allen could wind up being one of those rookies who looks more comfortable once the games count. Indianapolis won’t know exactly what it has until the regular season starts, and Week 1 against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Ravens will be the first real test.
If Allen takes advantage of Ajiake being out, he can start building a case for more snaps down the line. If not, the Colts will keep searching for the right mix at inside linebacker.
In Other News...
Colts Opening Day Letdown Raises Questions They Werent Supposed To Face
The Colts walked into Week 1 expecting a clean opening statement and instead left with a reminder of how quickly a season can tilt when both sides of the ball go sideways. Baltimore took control early in a 41-23 loss, with Indianapolis struggling to slow the Ravens passing game and failing to generate much rhythm on offense, even as Daniel Jones early interception helped fuel the first surge.
Zay Flowers did most of his damage before leaving with an injury, and the Colts never found a comfortable answer for the matchup that had already become a problem. Indy also needed more from its playmakers, with Alec Pierce quiet in the first half, and the kind of opening-day performance that was supposed to settle things only added to the questions this group was trying to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Owens' Colts Debut Had A Simone Biles Touch Fans Loved
Simone Biles showed up at Lucas Oil Stadium for a first look at Jonathan Owens in a Colts uniform, and she made sure the moment had a personal touch. Before kickoff in Week 1, Biles wore a custom blue-and-white dress with Owens name and number on it, then shared a handshake and a kiss with her husband on the sideline as he prepared for his first regular-season game with Indianapolis.
Owens arrived in Indianapolis after two seasons with the Chicago Bears and signed a one-year deal with the Colts, so his debut carried a little extra attention beyond the usual opening-week nerves. Having Biles in the building only added to the spotlight, and for Colts fans, the sideline scene was one of the more memorable details from a day built around fresh starts. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Face A Huge Problem Against The Colts
Zay Flowers turned a promising opening for Baltimore into an immediate concern for the Ravens on Sunday, leaving their Week 1 matchup with the Colts because of a hamstring injury. Before heading to the sideline, the second-year receiver was doing serious damage, piling up five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore tried to set the tone early.
Flowers was listed as questionable to return, and the Ravens said they were continuing to evaluate his status during the game. For Indianapolis, the injury changes the feel of a matchup that had already featured one of Baltimores most dangerous playmakers making a big early impact, and now the Colts are waiting to see whether they have to deal with him again or whether the Ravens have to adjust without one of their top targets. [Read more 🡒]