Two broad questions will probably determine the success or failure of the Indianapolis Colts’ 2026 season. The first is whether Daniel Jones can effectively return from the Achilles tear that cut short his 2025 campaign. The second is whether the rebuilt defense can keep the club competitive.
That last point may be even more important than questions about Jones. Consider this: The game in which Jones was injured – a crucial week 14 showdown with Jacksonville – 13 different Colt defenders recorded at least three tackles. Six of those players are no longer with the club. That’s major turnover.
Yet, even if we assume that Jones regains his early 2025 form and Lou Anarumo mixes all of his new defenders perfectly, a lot of other things need to go right in order for Indianapolis to challenge the Jaguars and Texans for the AFC crown. Today, I’m here to put your mind at ease about at least one of those important question marks.
Jalen Travis ready for his starring role on the Indianapolis Colts line
One of the Colts’ biggest strengths is their offensive line. It is anchored by future Hall of Famer Quenton Nelson at left guard. He is flanked by Bernhard Raimann at tackle and Tanor Bortolini at center. They are two of the best young linemen in the league.
The right side is less certain. Matt Goncalves looked very good at times playing right guard in 2025 but he seemed to wear down as the season went on. The reliable Braden Smith, who held down right tackle for the past decade, departed via free agency.
Jalen Travis, a mammoth second-year tackle out of Iowa State, will take over. Based on how he performed as a rookie, Indy has nothing to worry about.
Travis was chosen in the fourth round of the 2025 draft. He was initially seen as a developmental project who would compete with Luke Tenuta for a spot behind projected swing tackle Blake Freeland. Freeland, also a fourth-round pick a couple of years before Travis, had played a fair amount as a rookie in 2023.
But Freeland missed the 2025 season with an injury, and Travis was thrust into the swing tackle role. He played sparingly through the first three-quarters of the season, until Smith suffered a concussion in week 14 – the same game in which the Colts lost Daniel Jones.
Travis played almost 300 offensive snaps in the Colts’ final five games. His first start came against the league’s best defense in Seattle. For his final game, he got to play the league’s other best defense in Houston.
Until that final game, by which point the Colts’ freefall was complete, and they were out of the playoffs, Travis was taking the field in the most high-pressure situations imaginable. The playoffs were clearly on the line.
Oh, and did I mention that in one of those games, against San Francisco, he had to flip to the left side?
In that final stretch, Travis surrendered one sack and three QB pressures. He was called for two penalties. That’s solid work from anyone. It is roughly the equivalent of what Raimann was doing on the left side. Considering they were the first NFL starts of Travis’ career, he more than held his own. He showed no real weaknesses. His pass blocking and run blocking were both very solid.
His combined Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade from those final games places him at the same level as players like the Steelers’ Troy Fautanu and the Bengals’ Amarius Mims, two of the league’s most promising young tackles.
Travis only played one season at a high level in college. He transferred from Princeton to Iowa State for his final year. He is a smart player. A leader. His athletic gifts are obvious. 6’8” and 340 pounds, he runs very well and shows good footwork.
Tall tackles are always going to be challenged by speedy, athletic edge rushers who will try to beat them around the corner, but Travis has already shown progress in that area and should only get better with time.
Say what you want about general manager Chris Ballard – I certainly have been critical of his big-picture handling of the roster – but he finds talent in the middle rounds, especially on the offensive line. Bortolini and Goncalves came in those middle rounds. This year, Jalen Travis will join them as a starter and should remain in place for many years to come.
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