After Andrew Luck's heartbreaking and shocking retirement, the Indianapolis Colts finally spent big resources to get stronger up front. They've hung their hat on their stout offensive line, and that should continue to be the case in 2026.
However, this time, that unit won't include Braden Smith. He chose to join the Houston Texans on a two-year, $20 million deal to play with the hottest team in the AFC South. The Colts had an up-and-coming next man up in Jalen Travis, so they didn't necessarily oppose this move.
From the second he joined his new team, Smith was expected to be DeMeco Ryans' starting right tackle. Now, after his well-documented injury woes have come back to haunt him, that may no longer be the case.
Braden Smith might miss life with the Indianapolis Colts
As happened in 2023 and 2024, injuries are getting in Smith's way. He got hurt during the offseason program, leading Trent Brown to get the bulk of the first-team reps. That has also been the case in training camp, and Brown may have gained ground in this battle.
Brown started eight games for the Texans last season, seven in the regular season and one in the playoffs. The Texans were undefeated in those games, and while he struggled with injuries, he allowed only one sack.
He's reportedly picked things up where he left off last season, excelling in the first two weeks of training camp. It's reached a point where the Texans listed Smith and Brown as "or" in the unofficial depth chart, meaning it's essentially a toss-up right now.
The Texans liked Brown enough to keep him on a $5.5 million deal, even though he came with injury red flags. The problem is that Smith, despite having more than 100 career games under his belt, might not be much more durable or dependable at this point.
Of course, having the toughest team in the division go through a revolving door in the offensive line is great news for the Colts and their new-look pass rush. C.J. Stroud isn't known for his efficient decision-making with a clean pocket, so the bar is even lower when he's running for his life on every dropback.
As for Smith, this is yet another case of the grass not always being greener. Granted, he might be on a marginally better team now, but he may not even play, or at least not as much as he envisioned. The Colts, on the other hand, should be more than set with a younger, cheaper, and healthier option.
Loyalty is scarce in pro sports. This is a business first and foremost, and players have every right to do what's best for them, just like teams always do. Still, this looks like yet another example of instant karma.
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