The Indianapolis Colts are facing a daunting task in Week 15. Indy must travel to play the Seattle Seahawks at loud Lumen Field with the potential for a lot of drizzle. Not only that, but Indianapolis has undergone a few changes since it last played in Week 14.
One is that the last time the Colts took the field, Philip Rivers was not on the roster, and no one would have thought he needed to be. Then, Daniel Jones got hurt, and that left Indianapolis with Riley Leonard as potentially the starting quarterback. Now, Rivers might be.
A big concern for Rivers and the rest of the Colts' offense will be the right side of the offensive line. Longtime starter at right tackle, Braden Smith, will miss the game after suffering a concussion and neck injury in Week 14. A potential exists where Smith watches his future pass before him against Seattle, though.
Jalen Travis could kick Braden Smith out the door in Indianapolis Colts' Week 15 showdown versus the Seahawks
Smith is a free agent in the offseason, and while he has been quite good for a long time, he will also be 30 years old before the 2026 season, and the Colts might want a cheaper and longer-term option. That player might already be on the roster.
Jalen Travis was a fourth-round draft pick in 2025 and has only played limited reps this season. When he has played, he has been quite good. That includes Week 14 after Braden left with his injuries. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Travis played 35 snaps (25 of them in pass protection opportunities) and gave up zero pass pressures.
In 73 pass-block snaps this year, Travis has given up just one pressure, but no sacks, and the pressure came on Travis's one rep at left tackle. He has also been efficient in terms of run-blocking.
While he has yet to start a game this season, Jalen Travis will have a chance to prove to the Indianapolis Colts that he could be the starter beginning in 2026. If he performs well against a stacked Seattle Seahawks defense, Travis might have shown enough.
Plus, Braden Smith is caught in a difficult situation. The team might need to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones this offseason, and while the QB's asking price might have diminished due to his Achilles tendon injury, another team might enter the bidding for Jones.
Indianapolis also has to decide whether to re-sign wide receiver Alec Pierce, too. He could expect as much as $20 million a season in free agency. Assuming that is the case, and as limited as the Indianapolis Colts' cap space might be in 2026 because of the potential Jones and Pierce contracts, Braden Smith could be on his way out.
If Jalen Travis shows he can replace Smith, then he will make the Colts' free agency decisions a bit easier. Indy should at least re-sign Pierce, while letting Braden Smith walk.