5 Colts who need to perform in Week 1 vs. the Texans

The Colts are looking to take on the Houston Texans on Sunday, in a game that is much more important than your typical Week 1 game. The Texans have already, for all intents and purposes, been declared the AFC South champions - it's treated as a foregone conclusion, with the only question being who will come in second. A Colts upset will not only put their season off to a good start, but it will disrupt the pro-Texans narrative.

While the team is filled with talent and potential, it's also a young team, so if the Colts are going to win, there are certain key players that will need to step up their game. These players have either been injured or underperformed before now, and that can't happen if the team wants to have any shot at beating the Texans.

#5: Ryan Kelly

As the center, Ryan Kelly is vitally important to the Colts offensive line. He played consistently well last season, but this season, he's surrounded by a lot of young talent. That means it's even more important for Kelly to be at the top of his game. The offense will be relying on him this year, and as one of the most veteran players on the team, his leadership is needed now more than ever. And he knows it.

"I think you've gotta see some of the key players, and, you know, some older guys, or guys that were drafted a handful of years ago, and young guys starting to make contributions as well... I think that that ultimately is easier to make a team off that," he said in a locker room interview. "I think that these guys, including myself, been through a little bit of ups and downs the last six, seven years, and to see how close we came last year, and then to see the team that we keep building on, the foundation that we're building on, it's exciting, and the time is now.

#4: Laiatu Latu

There's a heavy burden on Laiatu Latu already, and that's the pressure of high expectations. He's already being predicted to win 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and it seems the entire NFL is looking at him to do big things. And if the Colts plan to win, he's going to have to.

The Colts will need a pass rusher who can destroy the Texans' offensive line, and keep the pressure on CJ Stroud. Stroud is a lethal quarterback, and if Latu can live up to the hype and keep him contained, the Colts will be all the more likely to bring home a W on Sunday.