Laiatu Latu leaves Week 3 with chest injury

Latu sat out in Week 2 and managed just one quarterback pressure in Week 1. He’ll attempt to get back on track against a Titans offensive line missing OT JC Latham (hip). Colts CB (concussion) is questionable to play despite practicing in full all week.

It’s an upgrade from Wednesday’s limited session and Latu would seem likely to play against the Titans in Week 3. Every Colts EDGE player will want a chance at Cam Ward, who has been sacked 11 times in two starts so far. CB Charvarius Ward (concussion) also practiced in full. Both players have a chance at not being on the team’s final injury report at this rate.

Ward did not practice last week because of his concussion and was ruled out on Friday. A return on Wednesday puts him in line to suit up for Week 3, but the veteran corner will still need to clear the league’s concussion protocol before being given the green light. Fellow Indy defender Laiatu Latu was also spotted at practice. The second-year EDGE missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury. Getting both players back for Week 3 would be a big win for a Colts defense that just gave up 28 points to the Broncos.

Latu is sidelined by a hamstring injury and Ward failed to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol. Both absences should make life easier on the Broncos’ passing offense. Goodson is rehabbing an elbow injury that kept him sidelined in Week 1. He practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday, which seemingly put him on track to play. His inactive status suggests rookie RB DJ Giddens has already sewn up the No. 2 running back role behind Jonathan Taylor.

The Colts are now down a starting corner in Charvarius Ward and a starting EDGE in Latu. Indy’s first-round pick from 2024, Latu had a quiet rookie season but was already making his presence felt this year with an intercpetion in Week 1. Bo Nix struggled in Week 1 despite the Broncos coming away with the win. He should fare better against the banged-up Colts defense later today.

Fellow cornerback Jaylon Jones has also been ruled out. EDGE Laiatu Latu is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. The Colts shut down the Dolphins in Week 1 but will now be at least slightly undermanned on defense. They are hosting the Broncos this week as Denver looks for a bounce-back after a sluggish win over the Titans. Bo Nix remains in the QB1 ranks for now, but another shaky outing could have him outside of the top 12 for Week 3.

Beware the mid-week downgrade. Latu got a limited session in on Wednesday. Latu was the highest-graded Colts defensive player per PFF in Week 1, notching a 91.5 grade despite no sacks and just one hurry. His absence would be felt by the Colts as they try to hold down Bo Nix and the Broncos in Week 2.

Latu’s chances of suiting up this week are unfortunately decreasing. The Colts pass rush also lost DL DeForest Buckner (back/ankle) to injured reserve this week, notably weakening the unit. The news bodes positively for Bears QB Caleb Williams.

Latu is dealing with a hip injury he sustained in Week 2 against the Packers. The Colts defense, one of the worst in the NFL in the early season, can ill afford to lose Latu, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Colts take on the Bears in Week 3.

Latu was a two-time National Champion on the rugby pitch in high school and was rated as the fourth-best defensive end from the 2019 recruiting class. He originally enrolled at Washington, where he sustained a neck injury that caused him to miss two seasons before getting medically cleared to play and transferring to UCLA prior to the 2022 campaign. Despite the extended time off, Latu wasted little time annihilating Pac-12 offensive lines for 65 pressures, 10.5 sacks and a 91st % pass rush grade (5th in P5) while winning the College Football Comeback Player of the Year award. Latu’s play ascended further last year, as he led the entire edge position with a 94.3 pass rush grade and 96th percentile overall grade with 13.0 sacks. His 26% win rate and 13.3% pressure rate were also tops nationally, as Latu solidified himself as the premier pure pass rusher from the 2024 class. Though he recorded 33 stops and an 82.1 run defense grade, his 24% missed tackle rate underscores Latu’s limitations in run support. Latu measured in at 6’5, 259 pounds and ran an impressive 4.64s 40-yard dash (94th%) with a 7.09s 3-Cone (85th%) and 4.34 shuttle run (83rd%). He didn’t bench and put up a pedestrian 32” vert (55th%), but Latu’s overall athletic profile adds up to a strong 9.37 RAS. Despite some limitations standing up to mammoth OTs in run support, he’s fast enough to consistently beat OL to the leverage point on run plays. His elite great testing at the combine was undoubtedly a draw for the Colts, who put a lot of stock in athleticism when constructing their draft board.