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Indianapolis Colts S Hunter Wohler discussed his recovery from a Lisfranc injury that took away his rookie season. (video via Jake Arthur/ColtsRoundtable)
The Indianapolis Colts were one of the biggest lightning rod teams in the NFL last season.
Entering the bye week, they had an 8-2 record, the league's top mark. Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor were both in the discussions for NFL MVP, as the duo led the offense off to a historic start.
After the bye week, however, the team hit a seven-game skid, removing themselves from the playoff race and dashing all the positive national energy they had received.
While excuses are hardly constructive, it's difficult to look anywhere besides the Colts' injuries as the primary catalyst for their 2025 downfall.
The return of the players that the Colts missed down the stretch is precisely the reason that people should be optimistic about the team in 2026, writes Eva Geitheim of SI.com.
"It’s not just Daniel Jones that will return from injury," Geitheim wrote. "An underestimated part of the Colts’ collapse last season was their passing defense, which ranked 31st in passing yards allowed in 2025. Both Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward missed time last offseason, and if they are back healthy, they will certainly improve this secondary. The Colts also added to the position by drafting A.J. Haulcy and signing Cam Taylor-Britt, Jonathan Owens, and Juanyeh Thomas."
One of the largest takeaways from the Colts' injuries, as Geitheim mentioned, is the impact on the pass defense.
From Buckner essentially missing the entire second half of the season while being relied on to provide an interior pass rush, to Gardner and Ward not being around to provide the man coverage that coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense requires, injuries were heavily detrimental to how the Colts' defense could operate.
With any sort of better injury fortune in 2026, the Colts will be getting a significant boost.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones moves along the sideline on a scooter Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, ahead a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar
The following is a review of Colts players who were serious contributors and missed at least three games, and of the Colts' record in games the player was injured.
CB Justin Walley: Missed 17 games (8-9)
Walley was arguably the most talked-about player internally during the offseason and training camp despite being a third-round rookie. He was in line to start at outside cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward Sr. before an ACL injury in August ended his season before it could begin. Walley is now expected to replace Kenny Moore II in the slot defender role in 2026.
S/LB Hunter Wohler: Missed 17 games (8-9)
Like Walley, Wohler was having a red-hot rookie summer and set himself up to play a significant role in the Colts' defense before he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc (foot) injury a week after Walley's knee injury. Wohler is expected to compete with rookie A.J. Haulcy for the Colts' starting strong safety role, but will still play serious snaps even if he doesn't win that job.
K Spencer Shrader: Missed 12.5 games (5-8)
Shrader got off to a terrific start in 2025, earning the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Month award after going 13-of-14 on field goals and 14-of-14 on extra points to start the season. That next game, his knee was dove on by a Las Vegas Raiders player, suffering a multi-ligament injury, which cost him the rest of the season. The Colts signed Michael Badgley to replace Shrader, and he was released after missing three extra points in seven games. Shrader will compete with Blake Grupe for the Colts' kicking job this summer.
CB Charvarius Ward Sr.: Missed 10 games (5-5)
Ward's addition to the Colts last offseason was supposed to allow Anarumo the freedom to use more man coverage and deploy exotic looks and pressures up front. However, Ward suffered three concussions during the season, which landed him on the Injured Reserve list twice. He's back in 2026 after contemplating retirement.
DT DeForest Buckner: Missed 7.0 games (1-6)
Buckner has been the heart and soul of the Colts' defense since 2020. He's played at a Pro Bowl level during his time in Indy, so when he suffered a neck injury that he ultimately reaggravated, his dominant play in the middle of the defense was sorely missed. He had a procedure on the neck when his season was done for good, and he intends to play in 2026.
CB Sauce Gardner: Missed 5.25 games (0-6)
The Colts traded two first-round picks and promising young wide receiver AD Mitchell to the New York Jets in exchange for Gardner. The intention was to team him up with Ward and make a serious run at the Super Bowl. Gardner and Ward played in one full game together, and then in Gardner's third game with the team, he suffered a calf injury at the beginning of the game that affected the remainder of his season. Gardner is healthy now, and all indications are that the Colts will get the All-Pro-caliber player they hoped for.
QB Daniel Jones: Missed 4.75 games (0-5)
Losing your quarterback is hard enough, but the Colts didn't even have their backup available to replace Jones when he was lost for the year to an Achilles injury in Week 14. Anthony Richardson Sr. had suffered a season-ending eye injury prior to Week 6's game, so when Jones went down, the Colts turned to sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard. Leonard suffered a minor knee injury that week, leaving the Colts unsure whether he'd be available the following week. They signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement. He went 0-3 before they turned back to Leonard with the postseason already out of consideration. There is optimism that Jones will be ready in time for Week 1 of the coming season.
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The Indianapolis Colts were one of the biggest lightning rod teams in the NFL last season.
Entering the bye week, they had an 8-2 record, the league's top mark. Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor were both in the discussions for NFL MVP, as the duo led the offense off to a historic start.
After the bye week, however, the team hit a seven-game skid, removing themselves from the playoff race and dashing all the positive national energy they had received.
While excuses are hardly constructive, it's difficult to look anywhere besides the Colts' injuries as the primary catalyst for their 2025 downfall.
The return of the players that the Colts missed down the stretch is precisely the reason that people should be optimistic about the team in 2026, writes Eva Geitheim of SI.com.
"It’s not just Daniel Jones that will return from injury," Geitheim wrote. "An underestimated part of the Colts’ collapse last season was their passing defense, which ranked 31st in passing yards allowed in 2025. Both Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward missed time last offseason, and if they are back healthy, they will certainly improve this secondary. The Colts also added to the position by drafting A.J. Haulcy and signing Cam Taylor-Britt, Jonathan Owens, and Juanyeh Thomas."
One of the largest takeaways from the Colts' injuries, as Geitheim mentioned, is the impact on the pass defense.
From Buckner essentially missing the entire second half of the season while being relied on to provide an interior pass rush, to Gardner and Ward not being around to provide the man coverage that coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense requires, injuries were heavily detrimental to how the Colts' defense could operate.
With any sort of better injury fortune in 2026, the Colts will be getting a significant boost.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones moves along the sideline on a scooter Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, ahead a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar
The following is a review of Colts players who were serious contributors and missed at least three games, and of the Colts' record in games the player was injured.
CB Justin Walley: Missed 17 games (8-9)
Walley was arguably the most talked-about player internally during the offseason and training camp despite being a third-round rookie. He was in line to start at outside cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward Sr. before an ACL injury in August ended his season before it could begin. Walley is now expected to replace Kenny Moore II in the slot defender role in 2026.
S/LB Hunter Wohler: Missed 17 games (8-9)
Like Walley, Wohler was having a red-hot rookie summer and set himself up to play a significant role in the Colts' defense before he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc (foot) injury a week after Walley's knee injury. Wohler is expected to compete with rookie A.J. Haulcy for the Colts' starting strong safety role, but will still play serious snaps even if he doesn't win that job.
K Spencer Shrader: Missed 12.5 games (5-8)
Shrader got off to a terrific start in 2025, earning the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Month award after going 13-of-14 on field goals and 14-of-14 on extra points to start the season. That next game, his knee was dove on by a Las Vegas Raiders player, suffering a multi-ligament injury, which cost him the rest of the season. The Colts signed Michael Badgley to replace Shrader, and he was released after missing three extra points in seven games. Shrader will compete with Blake Grupe for the Colts' kicking job this summer.
CB Charvarius Ward Sr.: Missed 10 games (5-5)
Ward's addition to the Colts last offseason was supposed to allow Anarumo the freedom to use more man coverage and deploy exotic looks and pressures up front. However, Ward suffered three concussions during the season, which landed him on the Injured Reserve list twice. He's back in 2026 after contemplating retirement.
DT DeForest Buckner: Missed 7.0 games (1-6)
Buckner has been the heart and soul of the Colts' defense since 2020. He's played at a Pro Bowl level during his time in Indy, so when he suffered a neck injury that he ultimately reaggravated, his dominant play in the middle of the defense was sorely missed. He had a procedure on the neck when his season was done for good, and he intends to play in 2026.
CB Sauce Gardner: Missed 5.25 games (0-6)
The Colts traded two first-round picks and promising young wide receiver AD Mitchell to the New York Jets in exchange for Gardner. The intention was to team him up with Ward and make a serious run at the Super Bowl. Gardner and Ward played in one full game together, and then in Gardner's third game with the team, he suffered a calf injury at the beginning of the game that affected the remainder of his season. Gardner is healthy now, and all indications are that the Colts will get the All-Pro-caliber player they hoped for.
QB Daniel Jones: Missed 4.75 games (0-5)
Losing your quarterback is hard enough, but the Colts didn't even have their backup available to replace Jones when he was lost for the year to an Achilles injury in Week 14. Anthony Richardson Sr. had suffered a season-ending eye injury prior to Week 6's game, so when Jones went down, the Colts turned to sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard. Leonard suffered a minor knee injury that week, leaving the Colts unsure whether he'd be available the following week. They signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement. He went 0-3 before they turned back to Leonard with the postseason already out of consideration. There is optimism that Jones will be ready in time for Week 1 of the coming season.
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