The Colts have spent the better part of the last couple seasons building their identity around a strong offensive line, and through four games this year, that group suddenly looks like a problem again.
The biggest concern sits at right tackle, where Jalen Travis has not given Indianapolis the kind of stability it expected after Braden Smith’s departure. Shane Steichen’s offense brought back four or five starters up front, but Travis is the new piece in the mix, and the early returns have been rough enough to force a hard look at the position.
Against the Washington Commanders, the line struggled across the board, but Travis was in the middle of it. He allowed a couple of pressures and a sack in a game against a defense better known for stopping the run than generating heat off the edge.
Through four weeks, he has given up 15 pressures, including 11 against Houston, along with nine hurries, two quarterback hits and four sacks. He has not been penalized once, but that hasn’t been enough to offset the damage.
The Colts may need to at least consider a shuffle. One option would be moving Goncalves, who has experience as a swing tackle, over to the right side.
That would open the door for rookie Jalen Farmer, who drew plenty of buzz during training camp, though Indianapolis may not be ready to hand him that kind of responsibility yet. Luke Tenuta is another possibility after he briefly stepped in at left tackle when Bernhard Raimann exited with an apparent ankle injury.
None of that changes the larger point: Travis has not played well enough so far.
That matters because Daniel Jones needs cleaner protection than he’s getting. Jones showed against Washington that his Achilles is fine, running for a touchdown on an RPO with Seth McGowan and diving headfirst into the pylon.
He’s also more elusive than he often gets credit for. But when the pocket keeps collapsing, the Colts are asking him to operate in conditions that don’t play to his strengths.
Jones has his own issues when he’s forced to throw under pressure, and those problems have shown up again over the last couple games. Still, it’s hard to put everything on the quarterback when the line isn’t holding up.
This isn’t only about one player. The Colts’ front has to be better as a unit, and the roster suggests they can get there. But right now, Travis is making life harder than it needs to be, with issues in depth, a high stance and hand placement that have left the right side too vulnerable.
In Other News...
Colts Sideline Debate Just Got Bigger At A Delicate Time
Carlie Irsay-Gordons habit of planting herself on the Colts sideline has become one of the more unusual talking points around the team, especially as she continues to work in plain view with a playbook in hand and notes at the ready. The principal owner and CEO has framed her approach as part of being an attentive leader, saying in an interview that listening and understanding matter, which fits the image she has presented during games.
But the conversation around her presence has widened, and not everyone views it as harmless curiosity. Bill Simmons questioned the sideline involvement on his podcast, adding another layer to a discussion that is already unfolding at a delicate point in the season, with Indianapolis sitting at 2-2 and trying to keep its focus on football rather than the attention orbiting above it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Khalil Mack Decision Fans Can't Ignore
The Colts pass rush remains a talking point as the season approaches, and the latest name to surface is a familiar one: Khalil Mack. Indianapolis has been searching for more help off the edge after injuries thinned that group, and Macks track record would instantly change the tone of that conversation if the Colts decide to get aggressive. He is on a one-year contract, which makes him the kind of short-term fix teams often explore when a roster hole becomes too obvious to ignore.
Still, any potential move is not entirely in the Colts hands. Mack also carries a no-trade clause, so he would have to sign off on any deal, and the Chargers would likely want draft compensation in return if they are willing to listen at all. That leaves Indianapolis weighing a familiar NFL dilemma: whether to pay for immediate help now or hold its picks and trust the current rotation to survive the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add A Familiar Pass Rusher With Anarumo Ties
The Colts added a familiar edge presence to the practice squad on Wednesday, bringing in veteran defensive end Carl Lawson as they continue sorting through their pass-rush depth. Lawson arrives with a clear connection to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from their time together in Cincinnati, which gives Indianapolis a built-in level of familiarity as the team looks to fortify the front seven.
Lawson has been around plenty of NFL locker rooms over his eight-year career, with stops in Baltimore, New York, and Dallas in addition to his years with the Bengals. He has 32 sacks to his name, and the question now is whether that experience and Anarumo familiarity can quickly translate into a larger opportunity in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]