A quick look through social media would tell you that the Indianapolis Colts just lost a playoff game because of a bad call. Meanwhile, key players went down with injuries, and the quarterback room is a joke. Time for a primer about the purpose of the preseason.
For most of the Blue Crew, this isn't exactly news. You good folks know that while it's fun to win, the Colts' record in the preseason means absolutely nothing. There are very few things that need to happen for a team to be successful to kick off the new season. I can think of three that should be at the top of every coach's list. Sadly, none of those three happened against the Packers on Saturday.
Yet somehow, the bulk of social media buzz after Indy's 23-19 loss to Green Bay was focused on a completely meaningless play. "Oh no, the fourth-string quarterback's pass to the fifth-string tight end was called incomplete! It should have been a touchdown, we were robbed!" Really, that's your take from this game? If so, we need to talk.
Indianapolis Colts show no signs of improvement in three critical areas
Any win looks good at this point. I get it, I do. The Colts haven't made the postseason since 2020, and haven't won a playoff game since 2018. They've been treading water for the past two seasons under head coach Shane Steichen. Sadly, it doesn't look like he's learned anything new in 2025, either. Indianapolis is no closer to success after Week 2 of the preseason than they were after Week 1.
Sure, Steichen said he was "very close" to deciding who his quarterback is. That's a great soundbite, huzzahs all around. Unfortunately, he then continued, "I've seen three weeks of it, so I'd like to have a decision here shortly." As most football fans know, that's not a good sign in any way. In fact, that's the first big problem.
1. The Colts still don't have a starting quarterback
You know the old saying, right? If you have two QBs, you don't really have one. That's certainly the case for Indianapolis. Anthony Richardson is being celebrated because he made a few routine throws against the Packers. In case you forgot, Green Bay rested 29 players, including several starting defenders. Congrats, AR, you managed to avoid a turnover or an injury in an entire quarter of play.
Meanwhile, Daniel Jones was a bit more accurate and effective. He was 7-11 for 101 yards and zero sacks, compared to Richardson's 6-11 for 73 yards, minus an eight-yard sack. That is, he was more effective as long as you ignore that gawdawful overthrow of Tyler Warren. If Richardson weren't so wretched, Jones would have been riding the pine since the fifth day of training camp.
But here we are, still waiting for a decision between two QBs who would both be trade candidates if you could find any team desperate for a backup. I say backup because no one would install either of these stiffs as a starter, except for the Colts. This is certainly the biggest problem, but there are more, as you're about to see.
2. Avoid injuries to key players
Indianapolis wasn't able to avoid those critical injuries. Budding star Hunter Wohler was ruled out of the game with a foot injury shortly after the Colts' first defensive series. It's not like Indianapolis can afford the injury, either, as starter Nick Cross was already out.
Daniel Scott is third on the depth chart at strong safety, and he's already missed two seasons with a torn ACL, then a torn Achilles tendon. He's not exactly Jim Marshall out there.
There's no word yet on the severity of Wohler's injury. Hopefully, it will be something relatively minor that won't cost him much time, but foot injuries can take far too long to heal. The Colts' defensive backfield could be in major trouble if their promising rookie misses much time.
As if that wasn't bad enough, starting right guard Braden Smith was ruled out in the first half with a groin injury. Backup Blake Freeland fractured his left leg in the second quarter. Oh, and backup RB Tyler Goodson went down with an elbow injury. Well, so much for keeping those key players healthy.
3. Establish a team identity
Does anyone have a clue about who the Colts are in 2025? Sure, they're going to run the ball a lot behind Jonathan Taylor. Unless he's injured and misses nearly half the season, like the 10 starts he missed in 2023 and the six he missed in 2022. I'm not even close to saying he's injury-prone. Running back is an absolutely brutal position, and very few backs make it through an entire season unscathed.
But even with a healthy Taylor, what does this team do on offense? Do they dink and dunk down the field, the Danny Dimes model? Or do they let it fly and occasionally hit it big, just not often enough, the AR version? Both leave big gaps in the offense, as each lacks the other's strength.
On defense, what exactly can they do to turn a game around? They're not good against the run or the pass. Zaire Franklin is the only Pro Bowl defender on the roster, and he's been out for the preseason so far. He's expected to be back for Week 1, but I'm still waiting for that Temu shipment from April, so...in other words, you just never know.
So, maybe a few Colts fans might be a bit more concerned about the real issues this team is facing, and stop crying about whether or not two players that won't make the roster scored in a game no one will remember in six more days. Do the refs miss calls? Sure. And if Bean doesn't underthrow Woods, he goes in untouched for the score, and you get your meaningless win.