The Indianapolis Colts are grappling with a series of injuries as they navigate the preseason. Wide receiver Josh Downs is set to miss 4-6 weeks due to a high ankle sprain, creating an opportunity for rookie AD Mitchell, who has been taking snaps in the slot with the starting offense. WR Ashton Dulin, who recently returned from an ACL injury, is sidelined again, missing his second practice with a hamstring issue.
On the defensive side, linebacker Jaylon Carlies is out for his sixth practice due to a hip injury. Before the injury, Carlies was impressing coaches and had been seeing significant time alongside Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed as the Will linebacker. With Carlies listed as the backup Will on the unofficial depth chart, his absence could open up opportunities for others to step in.
Defensive end Genard Avery also left practice with an upper leg injury. With Samson Ebukam out, the Colts’ defensive line rotation is in need of depth, prompting defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to emphasize the importance of finding the next group of players to step up. The Colts are keen on maintaining a deep and effective rotation, but these injuries are testing their depth early on.
As the Colts continue their preparations for the upcoming season, the impact of these injuries on their depth chart and overall team performance will be closely monitored.