Colts Enter Week 1 With Nobody Ruled Out — and a Ravens Defense Nobody Has Film On
Indianapolis gets a clean injury report for the opener, but Shane Steichen's bigger problem is preparing for a Baltimore scheme that has never played a snap.
The Indianapolis Colts did not rule out a single player for Sunday's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Shane Steichen said Friday — an unusually clean report for Week 1 and a meaningful edge in a game the Colts badly want to start well. Wide receiver Alec Pierce, who had been limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday with a heel issue, was a full participant Friday. Safety AJ Haulcy was also listed as limited during the week. For a roster that spent last season managing injuries at nearly every skill position, walking into an opener at full strength is the kind of small advantage that can decide a one-score game.
Useful next steps
Pierce's availability matters more than a typical WR2 designation would suggest, because his chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones is still being rebuilt after both spent time working back from injury. Steichen was plain about where Pierce is physically. "He's looking fresh, he's looking good," he said Friday. Earlier in the week he had framed the reps themselves as the point: "I think obviously, working out the kinks last week, getting (Pierce) back in, throwing routes on the side too as well — not in team drills, but them just throwing on the side and getting those reps as well this week in practice will be big."
You always look at his past history, but obviously, new team, new players. So, it'll be interesting to see what (Minter) does Week 1.— Shane Steichen, Colts head coach, on preparing for Ravens coach Jesse Minter
The real difficulty for Indianapolis is not health — it is preparation. Baltimore is opening the Jesse Minter era, which means the Colts are game-planning against a defensive scheme that has never been run by this coaching staff with these players. Steichen did not pretend otherwise, and he was complimentary about what he does know. "Got a lot of respect for him and his defensive scheme. He's done a hell of a job his whole career," he said. He also acknowledged the obvious focal point of any plan against Indianapolis: "I think anytime you play an opponent, I think anyone and everyone that we play against wants to take (Taylor) away," a nod to how defenses build their week around running back Jonathan Taylor.
Indianapolis heading into the opener
Alec Pierce is limited Wednesday and Thursday with a heel issue; AJ Haulcy also limited.
Pierce is a full participant. Steichen confirms no Colts players are ruled out for the opener.
Indianapolis hosts Baltimore in Jesse Minter's first game as a head coach.
Our take: a clean injury report is worth something, but the preparation gap cuts both ways and Indianapolis may hold the better end of it. Baltimore's staff has plenty of film on Steichen's offense; the Colts have essentially none on Minter's defense as it will actually be deployed. That usually favors the defense in the first half and the offense in the second, once adjustments are possible. Steichen's closing note on the week was about exactly that preparation burden: "Got a lot of confidence in these guys, and it's going to be about the work and the preparation we put in this week to go be successful on Sunday." With Taylor healthy, Pierce full-go, and nobody ruled out, the Colts have removed every excuse available to them.
Full health, home field, and an opponent whose scheme nobody has seen yet — Indianapolis will not get a cleaner setup than this.
Week 1 Prediction: Score, Spread & Player Prop
A healthy home team against a defense with no game film is a live underdog or a short favorite worth backing; the uncertainty is priced into Baltimore's reputation rather than its current personnel.
Lean under early. Both offenses are working against unfamiliar looks, and first halves in openers like this tend to be slow.
Jonathan Taylor's rushing volume is the prop to watch — Steichen all but said defenses build their plan around stopping him, which tends to mean more attempts, not fewer, as the game tightens.
Odds referenced from DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM lines as of this week; lines move, always confirm current odds before betting.
Around the site
Sources: BVM Sports, Sports Illustrated, Colts.com