Tyquan

Lewis

The 29-year-old situational pass rusher has spent his entire career in Indy. He matched a career high with four sacks last season. Not a starter, Lewis is an important depth piece.

Fellow defensive end Tyquan Lewis is also questionable to return. Lewis is dealing with a calf issue. Paye has 3.5 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries this season. Down multiple lineman, the Colts defense will be an easier target for Mac Jones for the remainder of this game.

The Colts were also without three defensive linemen, Tyquan Lewis, DeForest Buckner, and Kwity Paye. All three plus Leonard played last week. Indy’s injuries on defense will be worth monitoring throughout the week. Ryan Tannehill, who is looking less mobile by the week, would benefit greatly from a weakened Indy pass-rush.

Lewis tore his patellar tendon in Week 8, and has played just 15 games in two seasons due to knee injuries. He’s not a lock to be ready for Week 1, but he’s been solid enough to be part of a rotation when healthy.

Lewis suffered a torn patellar tendon in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ Week 8 loss to the Commanders. Lewis has had a career marred with injuries, missing 26 games since the Colts made him the 64th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. This marks the second-straight year that Lewis’ season was cut short by a knee injury. He appeared in eight games in 2021.

Lewis sustained the concussion in Week 4’s game against the Titans. Lewis has been a weak link in run defense this year, racking up a 32.4 PFF run stop grade while averaging 35 snaps a game. The Colts will need more from their front seven depth on a short week.

These players can be pulled off PUP at any time during camp. Leonard had back surgery and it was never expected that he’d be ready for the start of camp. Lewis missed the back half of the season with a knee injury. Strachan hadn’t been cleared to practice yet. McLeod ended the season on IR after an ACL tear. The team also placed DT Eric Johnson on the non-football injury list.

Lewis, 27, was the No. 64 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He’s played a full season just once and has missed 26 games in four years, including nine last season with a knee injury.

Lewis injured his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Titans. He had played a rotational role in the Colts defense, starting two games this season after four starts in 2020. Lewis had 2.5 sacks this year. His absence will be a blow to an Indy defense pressuring opposing quarterbacks at a league-low 15.2 percent rate.

“I certainly agree that that is something we should look at and we are looking at,” Eberflus said on replacing free agent Sheard in-house. “That is kind of what Autry did before and Tyquan. They both have played left end, they’ve played right end and they’ve played inside. So having players like that is certainly a good thing for our defense.” Al-Quadin Muhammad, second-year DL Ben Banogu, and Kemoko Turay are other candidates who could potentially play more EDGE this year. Sheard started in 44 of a possible 48 games with the Colts since 2017, leaving a massive hole to fill in Eberflus’ ongoing 4-3 scheme. Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner will occupy the middle of Indy’s trenches as every-down interior threats.