The Indianapolis Colts are now out of excuses when it comes to rookie linebacker CJ Allen, though maybe people have basically stopped asking. After all, Allen, the team's first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was supposed to begin his career as a starter and the green dot on defense. The opposite has come true.
Allen didn't play in the first game, got a handful of plays in Weeks 2 and 3, and then didn't see the field in Week 4. The reason the team gave for him not playing in the opener was that Allen had missed valuable practices early in training camp, though he had not missed any since early August.
The excuse was that the rookie was still getting acclimated to the speed and power of the NFL and learning the defensive scheme. Meanwhile, fellow rookie A.J. Haulcy missed practices later in the preseason and played plenty. But after Allen didn't play in Week 4, the Colts have made their stance clear on the linebacker: He isn't good enough to help the team, at least not now.
Indianapolis Colts seem to have no faith in rookie linebacker CJ Allen
Four inside linebackers played for Indianapolis in Week 4 against the Washington Commanders. Each played at least 17 snaps, with Akeem Davis-Gaither, the new green dot on Lou Anarumo's defense, getting 62 reps. Rookie Bryce Boettcher played 18 snaps and was pretty good. He was a fourth-round selection, playing better than second-round choice CJ Allen.
OK, that's a little misleading. Boettcher is necessarily playing better. More specifically, he is simply playing while Allen, dressed in his uniform and not inactive for the game, watches from the bench.
Something else is happening with Allen other than the fact that he missed practices in July and early August. We are now two months later, and he has had plenty of time to get up to speed. The Colts aren't simply trying to slowly get him involved; they aren't trying to get Allen involved at all. It's weird.
Indy not getting initial quality play from a second-round choice isn't unusual (and let's not forget that because general manager Chris Ballard traded two first-round picks for Sauce Gardner, Allen was the Colts' first selection this year). Jaylahn Tuimoloau did very little last season as a rookie after being a 2025 second-rounder. Adonai Mitchell was the second-round choice in 2024.
Ballard just appears to not pick players in the second round who will help the team immediately, and that is a round that should provide instant production. The positive part is that Tuimoloau is beginning to perform better in his second season. Maybe the same will happen with CJ Allen in 2027. He is just trending in the wrong direction now.
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