The Denver Broncos are not going to be nearly as easy a team to beat for the Indianapolis Colts as the Miami Dolphins were in Week 1. Miami was terrible. Denver is well-coached and has a fantastic defense. This makes the injuries to Indy somehow even worse.
If Indianapolis is going to beat Denver, the team is going to need a great defensive effort. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is a good fit in head coach Sean Payton's system, and he isn't likely to make lots of errors. Indy is going to have to limit Denver's drive and keep them out of the end zone.
That job will be much more difficult based on the Indianapolis Colts' final injury report ahead of Week 2. The secondary is especially hard hit as cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Jones will miss the game.
Indianapolis Colts final injury report entering Week 2 against the Denver Broncos
Ward, one of the Colts' key free agent acquisitions this past offseason, appeared to suffer a concussion in Week 1. He didn't miss any snaps against Miami, but when he arrived at Indy headquarters on Monday, he was placed in concussion protocol.
Jones is dealing with a hamstring injury that is going to keep him out for multiple games, most likely. While Ward is a starter on the outside, Jones is more of a rotational piece in 2025. His experience with the team is invaluable (he started 17 games in 2024), though, so replacing him isn't that easy.
Edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who quietly had a very good game in Week 1 when he had an interception and a quarterback pressure, was iffy entering Week 2 as he was also dealing with a hamstring problem since Wednesday.
#Colts HC Shane Steichen rules out CB Charvarius Ward (concussion) and CB Jaylon Jones (hamstring) for Sunday's game against the #Broncos.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 12, 2025
DE Laiatu Latu (hamstring) got injured in Wednesday's practice, but he hasn't been ruled out.
Cc: @NickKosmider
Latu hasn't been completely ruled out, though one might wonder how much his potential productivity will be hampered by his injury. His quickness might be limited.
The good news is that the offense, which has yet to be stopped on a drive, is mostly healthy. Michael Pittman, Jr., and Alec Pierce missed some time in practice during the week, but that appears to be mostly for rest. While running back Tyler Goodson still has an elbow issue, he has been able to practice.
Plus, the top two backs in Week 1, Jonathan Taylor and DJ Giddens, are good to go and were great against the Dolphins. As long as quarterback Daniel Jones is good again, Indy might score just enough to get a victory against a good Denver Broncos team.