The Indianapolis Colts formed one of the most dangerous cornerback duos in the NFL when they traded for Sauce Gardner. Along with Charvarius Ward, the former All-Pro defender gave the Colts the ability to shut down even the most dynamic receivers. The elite tandem let defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo lean into man coverage, letting his best players shine.
So why isn't it working?
Through two games of the 2026 season, the Colts' pass defense has been one of the worst in the league. They've been diced up by Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, allowing more passing yards than any other defense in the NFL.
But it's not a cornerback problem. Without much of a pass-rushing threat up front, the secondary is left out to dry. At its heart, this is an issue with the way that general manager Chris Ballard has built the roster.
Indianapolis Colts don't have the pass rush to support Sauce Gardner
So far this season, the Colts are running man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. It's been a staple in their defense since trading for Gardner. But even the best secondaries have a limit on how long they can hold up in man coverage before a receiver gets loose.
Too often, the pass rush has allowed opposing quarterbacks to sit in the pocket, waiting for a target to find space. Per SumerSports, Indianapolis has allowed QBs the tenth-longest time to throw in the league and has produced pressure at the fifth-lowest rate.
As a result, opposing offenses are averaging 9.81 yards per pass attempt. That's nearly a first down every time teams throw the ball. It's not a sustainable way to play defense.
Ballard has built a group of edge rushers headlined by Laiatu Latu and Arden Key. Latu is a talented player and still has room for growth, but he's not the ace pass rusher that a defense relying this heavily on man coverage needs.
To Ballard's credit, he did pursue Trey Hendrickson this offseason. Even at this stage of his career, Hendrickson could have brought the pass-rushing juice that the Colts need. Of course, he opted to join the Baltimore Ravens after their Maxx Crosby trade fell through.
But trying doesn't win games. Ballard's failure to find elite edge rushers throughout his time in charge has set Anarumo's defense up to fail, even with one of the most talented cornerback rooms in football at hand.
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