Laiatu Latu appeared to be coming into his own last season, even as the Indianapolis Colts were struggling with injuries and limping to the finish of the season. Latu, a first-round pick in 2024, had jumped in production and was trending toward being the kind of edge rush star that the team needed. In 2026 so far, he hasn't developed further, and the question is: Can he?
After getting 8.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits last season, he is trending toward far fewer numbers this season. Sure, this season is young, and anything positive can happen, but of note is that while he has nine quarterback pressures through three games this year with zero sacks, in 2025, he had 15 and one, respectively, through his first three games (he missed Week 2).
At least Latu is getting a bit more help early this season from a fellow edge rusher. Free agent signee Arden Key has 10 total pressures and a sack. Still, Indianapolis's pass rush has once again been inconsistent and poor. If not for the elite play of defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, things would be far worse.
Laiatu Latu is off to a slow start this season with the Indianapolis Colts
Is Latu simply off to a slow start? That's the hope. General manager Chris Ballard has had nearly as much success choosing edge rushers as quarterbacks, which is basically zero. Kwity Paye, who has since signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, was meh, for instance. Latu was trending toward changing the narrative.
Again, he still might, but through three games, he doesn't appear to be on the verge of setting the NFL on fire in his third season. If anything, he is back in the form he had as a rookie when he finished with four sacks.
Interestingly, while the Indianapolis Colts were much better in Week 3 against the Houston Texans, who appear to be a mess offensively, Latu wasn't, but some of that could be because he was dealing with a chest contusion that limited his snaps to 27. That the team succeeded without him could be telling, or could just be the result of Buckner's All-Pro level.
Moving forward, however, Indy will need Laiatu Latu to be closer to the form he had last season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo needs at least one edge rusher to be a star, just as Trey Hendrickson was when both the DC and the edge rusher were with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Latu might never be as productive as Hendrickson was, but he is closer to a Hendrickson-type player than anyone else on the Colts roster. Anarumo needs Latu to get back fully healthy and productive soon. There is too much season left and too much risk at stake in wins and losses.
Add us as a preferred source on Google