Colts reporter highlights potential concern for 2026 NFL season

The Indianapolis Colts are set to begin the 2026 NFL season, with ESPN's Stephen Holder offering insight into their biggest concern. The primary issue revolves around the team's pass rush, an area that has been a topic of debate all offseason. After parting ways with three of their top edge rushers following last season, the Colts are now relying on a rotation of defensive ends to generate pressure.

One player who may benefit from this situation is Laiatu Latu, a first-round pick from 2024. Latu is poised to continue his upward trajectory and has high-level production potential. However, the Colts also have four or even five defensive ends regularly seeing time on the field, leading to uncertainty in the unit's performance.

While Key has maintained steady production throughout his career, he hasn't achieved high-end pressure numbers. Consequently, a player better suited for a rotational role may find himself starting instead. Another quarterback to watch is Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who may excel in Year 2, but his preseason performance has been relatively quiet.

DeForest Buckner's absence from the defensive tackle position has significantly impacted the Colts' ability to secure one-on-one pass rush matchups, placing them at 30th in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric. Although a strong secondary could potentially aid the pass rush by providing more time for defenders to reach the quarterback, it remains uncertain whether the Colts possess sufficient depth to maintain consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the season.