3 Colts Who Emerged Out of Nowhere

Rookie fourth-rounder Jalen Travis wasn't expected to play this season, but injuries hit both tackles. Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith both had Travis step in for them for his NFL debut year.

Travis was thrust into the starting roles, and he looked solid. Per Pro Football Focus, his pass-blocking grade was 71.2, run-blocking 72.6, and allowed just one sack on 175 pass-blocking snaps.

Travis also went up against the likes of Joshua Hines-Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars), Leonard Williams (Seattle Seahawks), and the hellacious duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans).

Smith is a free agent, and is likely headed elsewhere. This gives Travis a clear path to be the starting right tackle moving forward in 2026.

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Linebacker | Germaine Pratt

The Colts felt they needed linebacker help for the 2025 season, and they went the route of a defender who had worked with Lou Anarumo during his days as defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals: Germaine Pratt.

After the Las Vegas Raiders released Pratt, Indianapolis quickly acted, bringing Pratt onto the squad for a modest one-year, $1.5 million contract. Pratt would use this opportunity to impress, and he did just that.

Alongside Zaire Franklin, Pratt was excellent for Anarumo, putting up 101 tackles, eight pass-breakups, and an impressive redzone interception of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Pratt should be an easy re-sign for the Colts. Pratt won't break the bank, and he looked great as a starter on the defense. He was also serviceable in coverage, which the Colts haven't had at the linebacker position in quite a while.

Indy shouldn't overthink this one and get Pratt a new contract this year.

Quarterback | Riley Leonard

The Colts drafted Riley Leonard in the sixth round of the 2025 draft with low expectations. Initially, Leonard was the QB3 behind Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr.

However, after Richardson injured his orbital and Jones tore his Achilles, Leonard was thrust into starting against the Jaguars in Week 14.

He didn't blow anyone away, posting 18/29 completions for 145 passing yards, one interception, and a rushing touchdown after Indy was vastly behind.

But after Philip Rivers played three games as the starter, and Indy elected to sit him in Week 18, Leonard was tossed to the wolves by facing the vaunted Houston Texans defense.

On paper, it looked like a lamb being brought to the slaughter, but Leonard had other ideas. He played with heart, efficiency, physicality, and almost won the game.

Leonard put up a great stat line of 21/34 completions for 270 passing yards and two scores. Leonard did lose a fumble after a strip sack from Hunter and threw a pick, but he was expected to be destroyed.

Leonard has likely earned himself a spot as the undisputed backup quarterback in 2026 behind the next starter, who will likely be Jones.