Colts get bad news on rookie safety A.J. Haulcy's status for Sunday's game vs Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts have revealed that rookie strong safety A.J. Haulcy will not be available for their upcoming game against the Cowboys due to an ankle injury sustained during Friday's practice. Initially listed as questionable, Haulcy was subsequently downgraded to out on Saturday. To fill in, second-year safety Hunter Wohler is expected to make his debut in Haulcy's absence. The Colts have also elevated second-year safety Trey Washington from the practice squad.

While Haulcy's absence might not be catastrophic, the loss of a starter is still a significant blow to the defense. Haulcy, a third-round pick out of LSU, had started eight games and logged 396 defensive snaps this season, registering 39 tackles. However, he has had difficulty adapting to the NFL, frequently making coverage errors. With three touchdown passes and a 114.4 quarterback rating while defending against opposing quarterbacks, Haulcy has struggled with taking away passes.

In contrast, Wohler has shown promise as a ballhawk in college, having taken away three passes. So far, Wohler has 16 tackles in 83 defensive snaps and has been the nearest defender in coverage on only three occasions. With the Colts already ruling out starting cornerback Justin Walley and middle linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither due to injuries, they have opted to elevate Johnathan Edwards from the practice squad for the second week in a row.

With a potent Cowboys offense expected to face the Colts, the defense will need contributions from players stepping up, such as Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown, as the season progresses.