Stampede Blue
The secondary is already getting thin for the Indianapolis Colts, who may be forced to deploy another unfamiliar cornerback trio in Sunday’s Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos. The “White Out” redemption game at Lucas Oil Stadium features the classic unstoppable force versus an immovable unit.
If the instability at quarterback was alarming enough entering the 2025 campaign, there should still be more concerns about the cornerback carousel in Indy. The Colts have four healthy cornerbacks available to play Sunday including returning starter Kenny Moore II, along with new additions Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, and Xavien Howard.
The Colts defense will play without a key piece as cornerback Charvarius Ward was ruled out for Sunday’s Week 2 matchup. Ward spent this week of practice in concussion protocol for a head injury sustained during the season opener. Ward played 94% of the defensive snaps and collected six tackles in the Week 1 victory, but will have to miss at least one game before returning back to action.
Cornerback Jaylon Jones was also ruled out after he reaggravated the same hamstring injury he suffered during training camp, which forced him to exit the season opener early. It will be the first time Jones will be sidelined, because the Colts’ 2023 seventh-round draft pick had not missed a single game through his first two NFL seasons. Jones was coming off a season in which he played 99% of the defensive snaps, but the third-year pro was limited to strictly filling a special teams role in Week 1 in an effort to ease his way back into action. Colts head coach Shane Steichen mentioned Jones “will be out a while” and does not have a timetable for his return.
It’s worth monitoring the gameday availability of Colts’ second-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who is battling a hamstring injury suffered on the practice field Wednesday and did not participate in Thursday’s or Friday’s practice. Latu secured his first career interception in the season opener, making him the only defensive lineman with an INT so far this season. Steichen did not rule out Latu, but Indianapolis’ 15th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft may play a limited role on a pitch count if he does suit up.
It was a masterclass for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in his debut as the Colts overwhelmed the Dolphins and allowed just eight points, which was the second-fewest points allowed by any team in Week 1. It will be a tough task opposing the NFL’s top defensive unit that allowed the fewest yards per play (2.42) last Sunday in a victory over the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans. The Colts just put together the most complete game in the Steichen era, but the NFL is a results-based league. Steichen orchestrated the perfect game plan to score on all seven possessions in the season opener, which was the first time in at least 47 years that feat has been accomplished, but Indianapolis faces a more difficult challenge against Denver.
