Could the Colts make a change at Right Guard?

Undrafted free agent Guard Dalton Tucker has manned the Right Guard spot since starter Will Fries went out in Week 5. With 3 career worst performances in the last 3 weeks, could it be time to make a change up front.

The Colts most recent Offensive line performance was abysmal. Point blank, the unit sucked.

Injuries have certainly lessened the line’s effectiveness over the last few weeks, with:

• Star Left Tackle Bernhard Raimann (Top 10 graded Tackle) being filled admirably in by 3rd round rookie Matt Goncalves (Top 40 out of 82 Tackles)
• Pro Bowl Center Ryan Kelly (8th in Pass Pro Grade) being filled pretty well by 4th round rookie Tanor Bortolini (19th out of 41 Centers in Pass Pro Grade)
• Starting Right Guard Will Fries went out for the rest of the season after having a big breakout to start the year (4th Graded Guard) and was filled in by undrafted free agent Dalton Tucker (70th out of 82 Guards)

Goncalves and Bortolini have filled in admirably as rookies, playing like average NFL starters (which is no easy feat for rookie linemen). While the Quenton Nelson is also coming off of a career worst game and should be held to a higher standard, he is still performing as a whole as a top 10 Guard and has had a long established history of dominant play. Nelson won’t be leaving the starting lineup, but should be held accountable in positional meetings this week to step back up.

Meanwhile Dalton Tucker is squarely on the hot seat. Over the last 3 weeks he ranks among Guards:

• Dead last in Pass Protection Grade: 26.7
• Dead last in Pass Protection Efficiency: 92.6
• Allowed the most Pressures: 13
• Allowed the 2nd most Sacks: 2
• 4th worst in Blocking Grade: 44.4
• 12th worst in Run Blocking Grade: 51.3

The Colts have several options to potentially replace the struggling rookie guard in the lineup:

An Old Face Returns

The Colts starting Right Guard of 2018-2021 has returned to the Colts! Mark Glowinski has 4 years of experience blocking in between both Ryan Kelly when he returns (possibly as soon as Week 15 after the Bye) and Branden Smith. While he has experienced 2 slightly down years since leaving the Colts in 2022-2023 and has not taken a single snap in 2024, the 32 year old certainly has the prior experience to ensure there won’t be chemistry issues between his old teammates beside him.

Glowinski might not have experience with Offensive Line Coach Tony Sporano Jr. and Head Coach Shane Steichen’s blocking scheme, but the veteran could once again stabilize the Colts Right Guard job albeit in the short term. A recent signing to the practice squad, we will see if he gets called up to active duty, let alone starting, this week.

The Other Rookies Get To Show Off Their Versatility

Both Goncalves and Bortolini are filling in for injured Colts starters at Left...