Skip to Main Content
EyePartInnerEyePartCorner
player headshot

Indianapolis Colts DST

Player Outlook
The Colts DST is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues, but the Colts DST could be an option to add off the waiver wire during the year in the right matchups. Indianapolis has some quality defensive players in DeForest Buckner, Zaire Franklin, Nick Cross and Charvarius Ward, and the Colts have a new defensive coordinator this season with Lou Anarumo. But the Indianapolis defense was bad in 2024 with only 36 sacks and nine fumbles, although the Colts did have 16 interceptions. Keep an eye on the Colts DST early in the year, and the unit could be a waiver-wire option in deeper formats.

Fantasy News

  • Colts' Jaylon Carlies: Has lead on starting LB role

    Rotowire
    Carlies (shoulder) is the favorite to start at linebacker opposite Zaire Franklin heading into training camp, the Indianapolis Star reports. "We think (Carlies) can really ascend," GM Chris Ballard said recently. Carlies moved from safety to linebacker last season and started six games. He recorded 36 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defended over 231 defensive snaps in 10 games. He underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and missed spring practices, but he is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Jaylon Jones: Soft tissue injury

    Rotowire
    Jones has sat out the past couple of weeks of practice due to a "soft tissue injury," the Indianapolis Star reports. Jones was one of four players on the Colts defense to record 100-plus tackles last season and started all 17 regular-season games. There are few details on his injury, so his status will need to be monitored early in training camp.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Zaire Franklin: Out of walking boot

    Rotowire
    Franklin (ankle) is no longer wearing a walking boot after undergoing surgery in May, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. Franklin needed a clean-up procedure on his ankle last month, but it looks like he could be fully healthy by the start of training camp in July. The NFL's tackles leader in 2024 will start when healthy, but his current absence might open up more meaningful practice reps for Segun Olubi.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' JuJu Brents: Back on field

    Rotowire
    Brents (groin) participated in Wednesday's organized team activities, Paul Bretl of USA Today reports. Brents sustained a groin injury during Indianapolis' 2024 season finale, but his participation in Wednesday's OTAs suggests he's moved past the issue. The third-year corner from Kansas State has struggled to stay healthy in the NFL, appearing in just 11 regular-season games throughout his career. In that span, Brents has tallied 57 total tackles, six passes defended, including one interception, and one forced fumble. Now fully healthy, he's expected to serve as one of Indianapolis' top reserve cornerbacks in 2025.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Daniel Scott: Returns to practice

    Rotowire
    Scott (Achilles) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. The 2023 fifth-round pick from California has yet to appear in an NFL game after sustaining ACL and Achilles tears in consecutive offseasons. However, he now appears to be past his Achilles injury, having returned to the field Wednesday. Scott is expected to compete for a depth role in the Colts' secondary throughout the summer.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Jaylon Carlies: Undergoes surgery

    Rotowire
    Carlies (shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports. The second-year pro from Missouri underwent offseason shoulder surgery, so it's no surprise he was unable to practice Wednesday. Carlies appeared in 10 games during his rooking campaign, recording 36 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defended over 231 defensive snaps. Once Carlies returns from injury, he's expected to serve as one of Indianapolis' top linebackers.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Zaire Franklin: Undergoes ankle surgery

    Rotowire
    Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Friday that Franklin (ankle) had a clean-up procedure last week, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports. The Syracuse product has popped up with an ankle injury and will likely remain out until training camp, per Bowen. Franklin has emerged as one of the NFL's top insider linebackers over the past three seasons, recording a whopping 519 total tackles across his last 50 regular-season contests. While Franklin is sidelined over the next couple of months, expect Liam Anderson to work with Indianapolis' first-team defense.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Samson Ebukam: Expects to be ready for training camp

    Rotowire
    Ebukam (Achilles) believes he will be cleared for full participation by the start of training camp, the Indianapolis Star reports. Ebukam missed the 2024 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a July 28 practice. The Colts must believe he'll be able to return, as he has a $10.49 million cap hit for 2025 and the team could have saved $6.49 million with his release. Ebukam had 9.5 sacks in 2023, but he'll have a daunting task returning to form coming back from an injury that could limit his explosiveness.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Hunter Wohler: Colts pick up Round 7 safety

    Rotowire
    The Colts selected Wohler in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 232nd overall. Wohler (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) might not have the athleticism to thrive as a starter, but he started two years at Wisconsin and was a productive enforcer type for the Badgers. Wohler could have done worse with his athletic testing (4.57-second 40-yard dash, 6.72-second three-cone drill), so he has a chance to stick as a strong safety for Indianapolis. Wisconsin defenders are often well-coached and have a way of sticking around the league, but Wohler will probably need to earn his initial ticket to playing time on special teams.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Tim Smith: Indy adds Round 6 run stuffer

    Rotowire
    The Colts selected Smith in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 190th overall. Smith (6-foot-4, 306 pounds) was a rotational player for his first four years at Alabama before taking on a starting role in 2024. Smith's overall game remained mostly the same the whole while, which is to say Smith always served as a run-stuffing specialist for Alabama. Smith did a good job of holding ground and freeing up room for other Alabama defenders, but Smith likely lacks the athleticism (5.17-second pro day 40) to ever project as a disruptor in the backfield.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Texans' E.J. Speed: Remaining in AFC South

    Rotowire
    Speed and the Texans have agreed upon a one-year, $5 million contract, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. Speed had a breakthrough season statistically in 2024, tallying career-high marks with 142 tackles and five defensed passes (including one interception) over 15 regular-season contests with the Colts. However, his overall PFF grade of 56.7 ranked just 134th among NFL linebackers due largely to a poor grade in pass coverage. Speed has also worked on special teams throughout his career and will likely be part of that unit while also providing depth at linebacker for the Texans. His role on defense could be magnified if Christian Harris, who played in only three regular-season games in 2024 due to a calf injury, or Azeez Al-Shaair, who logged just 11 regular-season appearances, have any trouble staying on the field again.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' David Long: Re-signs with Indianapolis

    Rotowire
    The Colts re-signed Long on Monday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. Long will remain in Indianapolis after splitting time between the team's practice squad and active roster in 2024. He appeared in 13 games but recorded no stats, playing almost exclusively on special teams (106 of 113 total snaps on special teams). The 27-year-old from Michigan is expected to compete for a depth spot in the Colts secondary while also contributing on special teams throughout the offseason program.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Corey Ballentine: Signs with Indianapolis

    Rotowire
    Ballentine signed a one-year contract with the Colts on Friday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports. Ballentine played in Green Bay the last three years, and in 2024 he finished the regular season with six solo tackles and one forced fumble across 15 games while adding 21 kick return yards. He'll likely reprise his special teams role in Indianapolis, but Ballentine also adds veteran depth to the Colts' secondary.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Bears' Dayo Odeyingbo: Heads to Windy City

    Rotowire
    Odeyingbo is in line to sign a three-year, $48 million contract with the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Odeyingbo will depart Indianapolis after four seasons with the Colts. In 2024, the Vanderbilt product recorded 31 combined tackles, including his lowest sack total since rookie season with 3.0. He'll figure to be a prominent piece on the Bears' defensive line in 2025.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Raekwon Davis: Released by Indy

    Rotowire
    Davis was released by the Colts on Thursday. The defensive tackle was let go with a non-football illness designation, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Davis played in all 17 games but didn't start a single one for the Colts in 2024, recording 15 tackles (seven solo) and a pass breakup. Davis initially signed a two-year, $14-million contract with Indianapolis last offseason, but this move will save the team $6.46 million in cap space, per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Nick Cross: Career year in 2024

    Rotowire
    Cross tallied 146 total tackles (87 solo), including 1.0 sacks, five passes defended, including three interceptions, and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2024. The third-year pro from Maryland experienced a significant jump in production during his first full season as a starter, setting career highs in total tackles, sacks, passes defended and interceptions while playing 1,111 defensive snaps. Cross finished as the Colts' second-leading tackler, with his 146 stops ranking ninth in the NFL in 2024. His three interceptions also tied Julian Blackmon and Kenny Moore for the most on the Colts' defense. Cross is entering the final season of his rookie deal in 2025, and given his breakout year, he's all but certain to receive an extension offer this offseason. He's expected to continue starting on the Colts' defense next season, serving as one of the team's top playmakers in the secondary.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Zaire Franklin: Another productive season

    Rotowire
    Franklin recorded 173 total tackles (93 solo), including 3.5 sacks, six passes defended, including two interceptions, and five forced fumbles over 17 regular-season games in 2024. Franklin continues to demonstrate why he's one of the NFL's top inside linebackers, having recorded a league-leading 519 total tackles while missing just one game across the last three seasons. He led the NFL in tackles for the first time in his career in 2024, tallying nine more stops than Budda Baker, who ranked second. Franklin is under contract through the 2027 season, so he's likely to remain in Indianapolis next season. Despite the Colts' defensive struggles (ninth-most points allowed in 2024), Franklin has remained one of the NFL's most impactful linebackers and is projected to maintain that status in 2025.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' E.J. Speed: Notches 142 stops in 2024

    Rotowire
    Speed tallied 142 total tackles (93 solo) and five passes defended, including one interception, across 17 regular-season games in 2024. The Tarleton State product had the most productive season of his career in 2024, setting new career highs in total tackles and passes defended while also nabbing the first interception of his career. Despite finishing the season as Indianapolis' third-leading tackler, Speed recorded the 12th-most stops in the NFL. Coming off a career year, Speed is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year. He's expected to be a sought-after player, likely signing a multi-year deal with a team in need of inside-linebacker help this offseason.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Jaylon Jones: Impresses as starter

    Rotowire
    Jones tallied 100 total tackles (66 solo), 12 passes defended, including two interceptions, and forced one fumble across 17 regular-season games in 2024. Jones was one of four players on the Colts' defense to record 100-plus tackles this season, starting all 17 of the team's games. The second-year pro from Texas A&M has now started 27 of the 34 regular-season contests he's appeared in, leading Indianapolis in passes defended and tying for second in interceptions in 2024. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, Jones is expected remain with the Colts in 2025. The 22-year-old is likely to remain continue serving as one of Indianapolis' top outside cornerbacks next season after an impressive 2024 campaign.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Colts' Taven Bryan: Logs mostly rotational role in 2024

    Rotowire
    Bryan ended the regular season with 20 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, a defensed pass and a fumble recovery over 17 games during the regular season. Bryan started on defense in Weeks 2-7 but reverted to a rotational role and didn't log more than 34 percent of the Colts' defensive snaps in any game thereafter. He's been a reliably healthy player throughout his career, playing in all 17 regular-season games each of the past two seasons and never missing more than two contests in any of his seven NFL campaigns, but his production and role haven't warranted IDP consideration. Bryan is set to be an unrestricted free agent upon the beginning of the offseason.
    ... See More ... See Less
Show more Fantasy news