The NFL is in training camp mode as teams begin the final stage of the offseason. The Indianapolis Colts kick off their camp this week, and it is shaping up to be one of their more important training camps in the past several years.
Why? Because the Colts have many unanswered questions, and the stakes are high going into the new season. Head coach Shane Steichen's job is likely on the line, as is general manager Chris Ballard's. Furthermore, several key positions on both offense and defense have thick clouds of uncertainty floating around them.
The Colts haven't made the playoffs in five seasons, which adds to the pressure to make good on training camp, preseason, and the regular season. One step at a time, though, and the next step is decisions on positions in camp. While there are many position battles to watch, three of them are especially important.
The Indianapolis Colts are under pressure to get these 3 position battles right
Linebacker
There is just one virtually known starter at linebacker for Week 1, and that's rookie CJ Allen. Reports since the draft strongly indicate the Colts are more than comfortable starting Allen despite his rookie status, which is one piece of good news in addressing the hole left by longtime Colts veteran Zaire Franklin.
As for the rest of the linebacker room, the other starters are not concrete, and training camp should hopefully answer that question. Akeem Davis-Gaither was brought in as a free agent on a one-year deal to help with depth, and he's a real candidate to start beside Allen.
Another rookie, Bryce Boettcher, is also a candidate, and his minicamp and OTA feedback indicate the Colts love him. Boettcher may lose out to the veteran, Davis-Gaither, who has past familiarity with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, but that doesn't mean he won't play. Who starts, though, is where the battle lies.
Backup quarterback
While backup quarterback position battles aren't the most important on most teams in the NFL, the situation with the Colts is different. For one, Daniel Jones is coming off a bad injury that ended his season last year. He's expected to be ready to start in Week 1, but his injury history has to allow for some concern.
The other reason has to do with Anthony Richardson, who has a lot on the line going into this season. Maybe not all with the Colts, but certainly his future in the NFL. Richardson wants another shot at starting, which, if Jones plays well and remains healthy, won't happen in Indianapolis.
Richardson has the talent to start; there's no doubt about that, but there's a whole lot more to making a good starting quarterback than just talent, and those are the question marks surrounding him. Richardson's camp goal is first to beat out Riley Leonard and be Jones' backup. Who knows what happens after, but being the No. 2 gives Richardson a better shot than if he were No. 3.
Defensive end/Edge rusher
Another defensive position that is incredibly important and that the Colts don't have a definitive answer to, other than Laiatu Latu, is defensive end. Latu is locked in for years to come, but their weakness on the line is the other side, opposite Latu.
Arden Key signed as a free agent but has never played as a full-time starter in his several years in the league. That said, his experience could help him win that role. His past few seasons in Tennessee were productive, as he totaled 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles in 33 starts.
Key's in-camp opposition will be second-year player Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who is expected to be the Colts' future at that position with Latu, but needs to prove he belongs as a starter after an underwhelming rookie year. Latu is obviously excellent, but the Colts need a strong presence on both ends, making Key's and Tuimoloau's battle highly important.
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