The Indianapolis Colts hope to start the 2026 season the same way they did in 2025, when the team was 7-1 and sitting atop the AFC South. After that, the level of competition greatly increased, and injuries took a brutal toll. Unfortunately, it wasn't injuries that affected the linebacker group, but simple inefficiency.
And that isn't just at inside linebacker, but edge rusher, too. Those two position spots could not only determine what happens when Indy takes on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, but also many games the rest of the season. The issue is that the Colts can't truly know what they will get from either one.
The team will learn that information quickly, however. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is obviously a dual-threat QB who will stress any defense, and in a multitude of ways. If the inside linebacker group underperforms, Jackson will slash Lou Anarumo's defense. If the edge rushers can't get pressure when Jackson drops back, he will test even the high-end secondary.
Indianapolis Colts will need to find answers at linebacker in Week 1 versus the Baltimore Ravens
General manager Chris Ballard didn't do much to address the concerns at edge rusher (or outside linebacker) this offseason. 2022 first-round pick Kwity Paye wasn't re-signed in free agency and left for the Las Vegas Raiders. In his place, Ballard signed Arden Key. At best, that is a wash.
The team did take a couple of edge rushers late in the draft, though Caden Curry is more of a defensive end than an outside linebacker. George Gumbs Jr. is a hybrid player who can play end or linebacker.
As far as the middle of the field, that might even be less well known. On the outside, Laiatu Latu was terrific last season, and he could be even better in 2026. He would at least be one player that the Indianapolis Colts can definitely count on to be very good. The same can't be said of anyone on the inside.
The team traded Zaire Franklin and his poor pass coverage skills this past offseason to the Green Bay Packers, but Franklin didn't have a built-in replacement. Instead, Indy took two off-ball LBs in the first four rounds of the draft.
Second-round choice CJ Allen has dealt with two injuries so far and missed a lot of reps in training camp and some of the preseason. When he has played and practiced recently, he hasn't been extremely impressive. He probably will play some in Week 1, but he doesn't appear to be trending toward starting.
Fourth-round selection Bryce Boettcher has a better chance of starting and has had a better camp and preseason than Allen. He is still a rookie, though, and Anarumo might not trust him to do well in his first NFL game against a quarterback like Lamar Jackson.
Instead, veterans Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies might be more likely to start. Indianapolis will probably rotate the inside linebackers quite a bit against the Ravens. No matter who is on the field, if they struggle to stop Jackson, the Colts are unlikely to get a victory to start the season.
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