The Indianapolis Colts are not entering the season with a clear plan for what to do at inside linebacker. Whatever is happening ahead of Week 1 just got a bit less chaotic, however. Austin Ajiake has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. That should mean even more reps for rookie CJ Allen.
Allen was the team's second-round choice in this year's draft, and before he was beset by a couple of injuries, he was potentially trending toward being the green dot on Lou Anarumo's defense. When Allen rotated in during preseason games, he was calling plays then, but he might not yet be ready to do that in real games.
The expectation is that Indy will rotate their off-ball linebackers in and out during Week 1, which is not exactly the kind of thing a team wants to do. Having two capable and trusted ILBs adds stability to a defense. One way of looking positively at the situation is that the Colts have so many good inside linebackers that allowing them all to be on the field at different times is good.
CJ Allen could see more reps for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 with Austin Ajiake out
Those rotating in will not include Ajiake in Week 1. He might not have been expected to start (Indianapolis hasn't made it clear who will at the position, but veterans Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies are likely), but he would probably have played several reps. If he is out, someone else will take those snaps, and Allen needs to prove why he should be the guy.
At the University of Georgia, Allen was a fantastic run-stopper and decent in coverage. He didn't need to pressure quarterbacks much, but Anarumo won't ask him to do that very often either. He should eventually be a great fit and long-term starter for the Colts, but he isn't there yet.
CJ Allen could be the kind of player who is better in the regular season than at any other time, and that is just fine, of course. The team cannot know exactly what they will get from the rookie until the real games begin.
As the Indianapolis Colts' first pick in the 2026 draft (the team didn't have a first-round choice, as that was traded to the New York Jets for Sauce Gardner), Allen has high expectations. He didn't exactly practice at that level in training camp, but he is only in his first season.
The hope is that when he sees the field in Week 1 against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the rest of the Baltimore Ravens, Allen will play well enough to earn even more reps in the future. At least he should assume he will see the field more with Austin Ajiake missing the game. The rest is up to Allen to succeed.
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