Indianapolis Colts Player of the Week: Young Colts defender was the most dominant player on the field

Multiple players stepped up to give standout performances in the Indianapolis Colts' Week 2 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals. But there wasn't a single player better on the field for either team than Colts second-year DT Adetomiwa Adebawore.  Colts Player of the Week: Adetomiwa Adebawore The Colts drafted Adebawore with the 110th pick in the fourth round of […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
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Feb 28, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks at a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
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Multiple players stepped up to give standout performances in the Indianapolis Colts' Week 2 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

But there wasn't a single player better on the field for either team than Colts second-year DT Adetomiwa Adebawore. 


Colts Player of the Week: Adetomiwa Adebawore

Nov 5, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore (95) reacts after a sack in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts drafted Adebawore with the 110th pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he spent most of his time on the sidelines. He appeared in 10 games and logged 132 defensive snaps, which was only 19% of the team's total defensive snaps in 2023. But it looks like he used his rookie season and offseason wisely because he looks drastically improved heading into the 2024 season. A source close to the team even told me that they believe Adebawore was "the most improved defensive lineman on the Colts returning from 2023." And he was able to put that on display against the Cardinals. 

Adebawore's box score of one sack and one tackle for loss on the day doesn't tell the whole story of his dominance. He disrupted multiple throws, and I can only imagine what his win percentage of the day will be. He showed today that he was simply too good to be out on the field facing backups, and I have to imagine he showed the Colts coaching staff that he is ready for a rotational role on the team's defense. In particular, his ability as a pass rusher stands out. So, who knows, maybe the Colts have found a partner in crime in the interior for DeForest Buckner when the team is in a clear passing-down situation.