Colts Lose Another Key Edge Rusher Ahead of Crucial Week 14 Matchup

The Indianapolis Colts entered Week 14 already preparing to face the Jacksonville Jaguars without one of their most important defensive pieces. Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner remains sidelined on injured reserve with a neck injury, leaving a significant void in the middle of the Colts’ defensive line. By Saturday, that challenge grew even larger.

Indianapolis officially ruled out veteran defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who continues to work through an ankle injury. Lewis missed Week 13 and carried a questionable designation throughout the week before the Colts downgraded him ahead of game day. It marks the latest setback for a defensive front that has relied heavily on depth and rotation.

Lewis brought experience and steady production to the group, even in a reduced role. His absence removes a trusted veteran presence at a moment when the Colts are leaning on young pass-rushers to sustain pressure. The timing is especially complicated given the importance of Sunday’s AFC South matchup against a Jacksonville team fighting to maintain its playoff position.

As Indianapolis prepares for its latest divisional test, the reshuffled defensive line will be central to its hopes of slowing Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense.

1. Lewis’ Injury and Season Overview

Tyquan Lewis’ latest injury continues a season defined by intermittent availability. After missing Week 13, the defensive end entered this week as questionable, only to be ruled out the day before kickoff. His absence stretches Indianapolis’ defensive depth further as it navigates its second straight game without the veteran. Lewis is the second-longest-tenured member of the Colts’ defensive line, trailing only nose tackle Grover Stewart. In nine appearances off the bench this season, he has recorded eight tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and a batted pass—production that underscores his usefulness as a rotational disruptor. While he has operated primarily behind Kwity Paye and standout rookie Laiatu Latu, Lewis opened the year as a more consistent piece of the defensive rotation. That workload began to shrink after he suffered a groin injury in Week 7 against the Chargers. From averaging more than 30 defensive snaps through Indianapolis’ first six games, he has seen that number drop to just 15 per game since returning. Now sidelined again, Lewis leaves a noticeable gap in the Colts’ edge depth at a critical point in the season.

2. Next Options Up Front for Indianapolis

With Lewis unavailable, Indianapolis will rely heavily on Samson Ebukam and rookie JT Tuimoloau to provide relief for Paye and Latu. Tuimoloau played extended snaps during Lewis’ previous three-game absence and showed encouraging flashes of physicality and upside. However, his usage has fluctuated, decreasing once Lewis returned to the lineup. This week, those snaps will be needed once more. The rookie’s versatility and motor fit well within the Colts’ scheme, but his youth also brings inevitable growing pains. Ebukam, meanwhile, offers veteran stability and experience, which could prove vital in high-leverage passing situations. The reshuffling comes at a moment when the Colts must maintain the pass-rush production that has anchored their defense. Indianapolis has been a top-10 unit in pressure rate throughout the season, leaning on depth, rotation, and aggressive play-calling to generate disruption even without star-caliber talent across the board. Sustaining that standard without Buckner and Lewis will require disciplined assignments, timely pressure, and strong edge containment from the supporting cast.

3. A Favorable Matchup Against a Vulnerable Jaguars Line

Despite the personnel losses, Indianapolis draws a matchup that plays into its defensive strengths. Jacksonville’s offensive line has struggled throughout the season to keep Trevor Lawrence clean, allowing him to be the fifth-most-sacked quarterback in the league. The Jaguars’ protection has been inconsistent, particularly on the edges, where speed rushers have found repeated success. For a Colts front that thrives on pressure, this presents a clear avenue for impact. Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu have both shown the ability to win one-on-one matchups, and the rotational pieces behind them could also find opportunities. If the Colts can collapse the pocket consistently, they stand a strong chance of dictating tempo and forcing Lawrence into hurried decisions. Indianapolis will need to capitalize on that matchup advantage to offset its own injury concerns. The formula remains straightforward: pressure up front, disciplined coverage behind it, and a commitment to controlling passing downs. With divisional stakes and postseason implications hanging over the contest, the performance of the Colts’ patchwork defensive line may determine how competitive they remain late in the year.