Multiple key players will miss the Colts and Boncos Week 2 matchup but the door opens for a rookie to make his NFL debut

Who is in and who is out for the Colts and Broncos Week 2 matchup

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Edge Laiatu Latu pursuing Broncos QB Bo NIx
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos are going head-to-head in a battle of 1-0 teams in Week 2. Neither team will be at 100% as both have key players set to miss the game. The Colts will look to fight through injuries and go 2-0 for the first time since 2009. Each team has now posted their inactive lists ahead of kickoff, and it has given us a lot of information.

Colts Week 2 inactives

  • Tyler Goodson, RB
  • Laiatu Latu, Edge
  • Will Mallory, TE
  • Luke Tenuta, OT
  • Charvarius Ward, CB
  • Riley Leonard, QB (Emergency 3rd QB)

The most notable inactives for the Colts are starters Charvarius Ward and Laiatu Latu. Having to play without your top CB and your top edge rusher will require some massive adjustments by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. A notable name not listed, though, is the team’s 2025 second-round pick JT Tuimoloau. He was a healthy scratch last week, which means he is making his NFL debut today.

With Ward out, I expect the Colts to slide Xavien Howard into the top starting outside spot. Behind him, I think we will see young CBs Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards play bigger roles than normal. I also think the team will ask Kenny Moore II to move outside in two CB sets more than usual. Without Latu, the Colts will likely deploy a legit edge rusher by committee approach with Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, and Tuimoloau all being in the rotation.

The Broncos’ most notable inactives include starting LB Dre Greenlaw and key rotational RB Jaleel McLaughlin. The Colts could look to lean more on Jonathan Taylor and the run game as a result or it could open the door for an even bigger Tyler Warren game. McLaughlin may not be the Broncos’ starting RB, but he possesses a ton of juice and has the ability to generate explosive plays. So him being a healthy scratch is shocking to me, especially after their run game struggled in Week 1 vs. the Tennessee Titans without him. But I’m sure the Colts won’t complain about him being on the sideline.

Related Articles