The Indianapolis Colts don't scheme for other teams in the preseason as no team does. The relatively meaningless games are showcases for players to prove they belong on the roster, and for others to unintentionally play themselves off it.
Jaylahn Tuimoloau (who some still call JT Tuimoloau, though those are only his initials) is trending toward the latter. He was wretched as a rookie and often a healthy scratch. That part is somewhat shocking for a second-round choice, as that high a selection should be able to be an immediate contributor.
Not Tuimoloau last season and not in the first two preseason games of 2026, either. Against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, Tuimoloau was especially invisible. He played 25 defensive snaps (14 pass-rush reps and 11 against the run), and the second-year player didn't record a statistic.
Jaylahn Tuimoloau continues to be the Indianapolis Colts' invisible man
He didn't get a single pressure on any Atlanta quarterback, didn't tackle anyone, and he didn't even whiff on a tackle attempt. That implies he wasn't even close enough to a play to make a difference either way.
To make matters more pessimistic, only presumed backups were involved in the game, which means that Tuimoloau couldn't make a difference even against the Falcons' subs. How could he be expected to play well when he is forced to take on the starters of other teams in real games? He likely can't.
While general manager Chris Ballard gets some praise for drafting well, which is debatable, he has consistently whiffed on two of the most important positions: Quarterback and edge rusher. Kwity Paye, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, twice had eight sacks in a season, but had just four last year. No one would say he was a high-end player.
At least Laiatu Latu might be the outlier. He was quite good in his second season after being a first-round draft pick in 2024. Last year, he had 61 total pressures and was good against the run. He might be even better in year three, as long as he can get some help.
That assistance doesn't appear to be coming from Tuimoloau. Instead, the edge rusher might be a healthy scratch in some games in 2026. Why play him if he isn't going to help, and he hasn't shown he can be anywhere near good?
Part of the issue is that Tuimoloau is quick to smile and offers a bit of charisma. If he could find his footing in the NFL, he could turn into a fan favorite. Currently, he is quite the opposite of all of that.
The Indianapolis Colts aren't going to release him. They spent too much draft capital on him to give up so easily, but next year, if he doesn't produce this season? Why not? At least, Tuimoloau being sent packing would open up a roster spot for a potentially more productive player.
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