The Indianapolis Colts are facing a crucial season ahead of them. Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard might not make it past 2026 unless the team makes a deep postseason run, and everyone knows what's at stake this time.
Once again, health might be the most crucial factor in Indianapolis. They hope that Daniel Jones' miracle recovery will hold, and they also need their aging defensive line and brittle secondary to stay on the field.
With plenty of uncertainty and more pressure than ever, Steichen and company will have little to no margin for error. Considering that, let's take a look at the three predictions that might define their campaign.
3 bold predictions that will define the Indianapolis Colts' season
Daniel Jones will play all 17 games
While this wouldn't be a bold prediction for most teams, it is for the Indianapolis Colts. They haven't had the same quarterback start all 17 games since Carson Wentz did so in 2021, so as much as this should be a given, it's actually huge for this organization.
Jones is in the first year of a very lucrative 'prove it' deal. He played his best football in his first year with Coach Steichen, and he's looking to be the league's next big redemption story, like Sam Darnold. He's reportedly sharp and ready to roll after an Achilles injury, and availability might be his best ability in 2026.
Sauce Gardner will pick off 5+ passes
Sauce Gardner is, undeniably, one of the best guys in coverage in the entire league. However, as much as he's elite at disrupting the catch point, he's never been much of a ball hawk, and he didn't even have an interception in 11 games last season.
The former New York Jets star has vowed to take a big leap in that aspect of his game in 2026. He wants to generate more turnovers and flip the field often for Lou Anarumo's defense. He's back to full strength, and with his rare combination of athleticism, length, and elite close-out speed, he's got all the tools to fulfill that goal.
CJ Allen will be a late-season star
CJ Allen was the team's most disappointing offseason addition. He missed time in training camp with an injury, and he looked lost and erratic in his limited preseason action. Clearly, he's still far behind in his development, and the Colts' plans for him might have to be different.
However, once he makes up for all the lost time and finally gets his legs under him, he can be the team's defensive anchor in the middle. He may not contribute much early on in the campaign, but he will give this team a massive boost when the coaching staff finally feels that he's ready to play a bigger role on defense.
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