The Colts are getting a major break in Week 1, and it comes in the form of Nnamdi Madubuike’s absence.
Baltimore has already ruled the defensive lineman out because of a neck injury, and that changes the shape of this matchup right away. Neck injuries are not something to shrug off, and Madubuike’s situation is serious enough that the Ravens are holding him out. He was limited to just two games in 2025 after the injury, and it required surgery in April 2026.
From a human standpoint, nobody should be rooting for this kind of injury. Colts fans know that better than most after DeForest Buckner dealt with a neck issue of his own last year.
Buckner did get back for part of one game, but injuries like this can carry life-altering consequences. Still, when it comes to the football side, both players matter a whole lot.
Madubuike is a difference-maker. The Ravens are better when he’s on the field, and the Colts are better when Buckner is available. But for Week 1, Baltimore will have to line up without him.
That opens the door for Indianapolis up front. The depth behind Madubuike is shaky, even with Travis Jones and Calais Campbell in the mix. And with Madubuike out, the Colts’ offensive line should have the edge more often than not.
That matters because Shane Steichen’s offense is built to be flexible. He is not trying to live on the pass 80 percent of the time.
He wants to use the team’s best players, and Jonathan Taylor is obviously one of them. Quenton Nelson is another, and center Tanor Bortolini belongs in that group too.
Those three should have a cleaner job ahead of them without Madubuike clogging the middle. The two-time Pro Bowler has become one of the league’s best interior defenders, backed by 13 sacks in 2023 and double-digit tackles for loss that season and in 2025. He won’t be there to make life difficult for Indianapolis.
That should help the Colts build the kind of balanced attack they need. Daniel Jones needs time to operate efficiently, and more often than not he’s the kind of quarterback who would rather move the chains than force throws downfield.
Taylor needs room to run, too. The Colts saw how quickly things can get complicated for him when Jones was hurt in Week 14 last year and defenses were able to focus on Taylor alone.
So while the Ravens’ decision is about protecting a player dealing with a serious injury, it also leaves Indianapolis with a better-looking path in Week 1. Against a Baltimore front without Madubuike, the Colts, Taylor and Nelson should all have a little more breathing room.
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Slaytons connection to Daniel Jones gives the Colts a possible shortcut if they decide to act quickly, and that is part of what makes this one intriguing. There has been no confirmed interest or signing from Indianapolis, but the opportunity is there if the team wants to add more depth and a receiver Jones already knows well. In a market where capable veterans rarely stay available for long, the Colts may not have much time to decide whether this reunion makes enough sense to pursue. [Read more 🡒]