It is somewhat amazing that the Indianapolis Colts are 6-1 entering Week 8. Not because the team isn't good, because it certainly is, but because of the massive amount of defensive injuries the team has suffered. A great offense can overcome only so many issues.
Thankfully, the Colts don't play a very good team in Week 8. Indy will host the Tennessee Titans, a team that has won one game so far in the 2025 season and has already fired its head coach. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward might be good one day, but he doesn't have much help now.
Plus, Indianapolis might have a couple of players looking to finally make an impact in the NFL, and the Titans could bear the brunt of that initial impact. Edge rushers Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis will both miss the game, which means preseason star Durell Nchami should be able to see the first real-game action of his career.
Durell Nchami could go from an unsung player to a breakout performer for the Indianapolis Colts
Nchami went undrafted out of college in 2023 and was originally signed by the Denver Broncos to their practice squad late in the 2023 season. After he was released, the Colts signed Nchami to their practice squad late in the 2024 season. After the edge rusher didn't make Indy's initial 53-man roster ahead of the season, he was signed back to the practice squad.
Nchami did show flashes of being productive during preseason games, though. Mind you, it was mostly when he got snaps against other players who likely were not going to make their own team's rosters. That doesn't mean Nchami can get into Week 8 on a few obvious passing downs and be a menace.
In the Colts' three preseason games this year, he had five total pressures, including a quarterback hit. He was inconsistent at stopping the run, but the assumption is that whatever reps he gets against Tennessee will be pass-rush snaps.
Perhaps Durell Nchami will be one of those golden stories of a player who goes from being unsung and mostly unwanted to being quite disruptive when given the chance. He might never be a Pro Bowler, but if he does well in Week 8, he might find a way to stick on the Indianapolis Colts roster for a while. If nothing else, he might get a chance to prove what he can do on another team, too.