The Colts’ pass rush is in the middle of a full reset, and the biggest question is simple: who lines up across from Laiatu Latu?
Latu remains the centerpiece of the group. He’s flashed real impact in his first two seasons, and he’s chasing double-digit sacks this year. But even with one starting job spoken for, Indianapolis still has to settle the other side of the edge.
That’s where the roster gets interesting. Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis are all gone, leaving the Colts to sort through Jaylahn Tuimoloau and veteran additions Arden Key and Micheal Clemons. It may not jump off the page, but this is the kind of battle that can sharpen a room.
Tuimoloau is the wild card. The Colts landed him at No. 45 after he was viewed as a first-round-caliber talent, but his rookie year didn’t deliver much.
He played only 215 defensive snaps, which was 24 percent of the team’s total, was a healthy scratch several times, and didn’t make much noise when he was on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with 14 pressures and 10 total tackles on 130 pass-rush snaps, while also seeing limited work on special teams.
Still, there’s reason for Indianapolis to keep pushing him. Another offseason in Lou Anarumo’s system, plus a clearer path to snaps, gives Tuimoloau a real chance to show more of what made him such a high-end prospect in the first place.
Key brings a different kind of value. He’s been a steady, efficient edge presence without being flashy, and he looks like a strong candidate to be the first man off the bench in passing situations. He’s also Tuimoloau’s most direct competition for a starting role, and there’s a familiar connection working in his favor: new linebackers coach James Bettcher already coached Key with the San Francisco 49ers.
Clemons should have a role too. He’s the kind of versatile piece who can work on the edge or slide inside as another defensive tackle, and even if he doesn’t crack the starting lineup, he’s expected to be on the field plenty for the 2026 Colts.
The names may not be the loudest outside of Latu, but Indianapolis appears to have options. And in this case, that competition could end up making the whole group look better.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardsons Colts Camp Day Left One Big Question
Training camp in Westfield has already taken on the tone the Colts want, with principal owner Carly Irsay-Gordon stressing the simple message of Find a way as the team opens its work in earnest. On the field, there was plenty to watch as veteran wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. got chances to show their value, while the coaching staff kept things moving by rotating players through drills and giving the rookies a real look.
C.J. Allen and A.J. Haulcy were among the newcomers active in practice, the kind of early camp reps that can matter later when roster decisions start to tighten. For Richardson, the bigger question is not whether he can flash talent in camp, but how consistently he can carry that into the kind of daily work the Colts are pushing under this new standard. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A New Name To Watch In WR Battle
Eli Pancols arrival in Indianapolis came quietly enough in November, after the undrafted wide receiver was released by Jacksonville and landed on the Colts practice squad. Since then, he has earned a look in practice and moved into the conversation as the team sorts through its wide receiver depth chart heading into the next phase of camp.
The competition for the No. 3 receiver job still has plenty of moving parts, with Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine also in the mix. For the Colts, the spot remains unsettled, and Pancol has given himself a chance to be more than just a depth name while the battle plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Wide Receiver Battle Is Already Raising One Familiar Concern
Training camp has given the Colts exactly what they asked for at wide receiver, a real competition for the spots that will line up alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen have both stressed that the room is still in flux, with Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and rookie Deion Burks all part of the mix as Indianapolis sorts through the depth chart and tries to identify who fits best.
It is also a reminder of how unsettled this group still is, even with camp underway. The Colts have left the door open to adding a free agent at the position, which keeps the focus on performance but also suggests the team is not ready to treat the current battle as finished business. For a receiving corps trying to find order, the next stretch of practices could matter just as much as the opener. [Read more 🡒]