Colts Injury Report For Week 2

Here we go again. Just when you thought it was safe to get your hopes up about the Indianapolis Colts, the injury bug, that relentless, uninvited houseguest, has decided to overstay its welcome. It’s only Week 2, and the Colts’ secondary is already looking thinner than a supermodel’s patience on a juice cleanse.

This Sunday, as Lucas Oil Stadium prepares for a “White Out” redemption game against the Denver Broncos, it feels less like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object and more like a patchwork quilt facing a flamethrower. And let’s be honest, if you were already biting your nails down to the quick about the quarterback situation, the cornerback carousel in Indy should have you mainlining antacids.

The Walking Wounded: Colts Cornerback Casualties

The injury report dropped, and it hit with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The big headline? Charvarius Ward is OUT. The key free-agent acquisition, a guy who was on the field for a whopping 94% of defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory, is stuck in concussion protocol. After racking up six tackles and looking like a cornerstone piece, Ward now has to trade his helmet for a clipboard. You hate to see it. It’s like buying a new Ferrari and immediately getting a flat tire.

But wait, there’s more! The injury gods weren’t satisfied with just one cornerback. Jaylon Jones is also OUT. Jones, a seventh-round gem from 2023 who hadn’t missed a single game in his first two seasons, re-aggravated a hamstring injury that’s been nagging him since training camp. Head Coach Shane Steichen delivered the grim news that Jones “will be out a while,” which is coach-speak for “don’t hold your breath.” After playing 99% of defensive snaps last season, Jones was being eased back in on special teams. So much for that plan.

 With Ward and Jones sidelined, the Colts are down to just four healthy cornerbacks. You’ve got the veteran stalwart Kenny Moore II, and then a trio of new faces in Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, and Xavien Howard. It’s a “next man up” situation, which is both a testament to resilience and a terrifying prospect for fans.

Will Latu Suit Up for the Colts?

As if the secondary situation wasn’t enough to cause a collective panic attack, we’re also sweating the status of second-year Edge Rusher Laiatu Latu. The 15th overall pick from the 2024 draft is battling a hamstring injury he picked up in practice on Wednesday. Latu, who just nabbed his first career interception last week (a rare feat for a defensive lineman), missed practice on both Thursday and Friday.

 While Steichen hasn’t officially ruled him out, missing the last two practices of the week is usually a bad omen. If Latu does play, expect him to be on a pitch count, which is like having a secret weapon you can only use for five minutes. It’s a tough break for a promising young player and another headache for Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo.

A Tough Pill To Swallow After Week 1’s High

The timing of these injuries is just brutal. The Colts are coming off what can only be described as a defensive masterpiece in Anarumo’s debut. Holding the Dolphins to just eight points was the second-best defensive performance in the entire league for Week 1. The offense, orchestrated by Steichen, was a machine, scoring on all seven of its possessions—a feat not seen in nearly half a century.

 It was, for a fleeting moment, the most complete game of the Steichen era. But the NFL has the memory of a goldfish. What you did last week doesn’t matter. Now, Indy faces a Denver defense that was the stingiest in the league last week, allowing a measly 2.42 yards per play.

 So, here we are. The Colts are riding the high of a dominant victory straight into a buzzsaw of injuries against a top-tier opponent. Can they scheme around the losses? Can the “next man up” actually step up? It’s going to be a gut-check Sunday in Indianapolis. Get your popcorn ready, folks. It could be a long afternoon.