The Colts on Tuesday placed defensive end Tyquan Lewis on injured reserve, dealing another blow to a depleted – yet deep – defensive line early in the 2024 season.
Lewis is the third Colts defensive lineman to be placed on injured reserve in the last two months, joining defensive end Samson Ebukam (who sustained an Achilles' injury in training camp) and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (who sustained an ankle injury in Week 2). Ebukam led the Colts in sacks in 2023 and Buckner is a three-time Pro Bowler; Lewis brings workmanlike versatility and consistency on the field and vocal leadership off the field to the Colts' defensive line room.
"As a man – great leader," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "Two games ago against Chicago, you could feel it – there's a number of plays where we felt like he was a guy in particular that really emptied his tank. But he plays like that every game."
The 29-year-old Lewis sustained an elbow injury late in the fourth quarter of the Colts' Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started all four of the Colts' games this season and totaled 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss and 17 total tackles while playing snaps at defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. Lewis' 12 pressures are tied with fellow defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo for the team lead.
"No matter where we put him – if it's inside, if it's outside, you know what you're going to get from him," Bradley said. "He's going to give you a full day's work. ... Tremendous effort, tremendous football IQ, helps out the younger guys and he's a playmaker for us. That one's going to be hard on us. But we'll have other guys that will step up."
In Lewis' absence, the Colts could continue to increase 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu's workload. Latu played a season-high 46 snaps in Week 4 – defensive end Kwity Paye (quad) did not play against Pittsburgh – and notably, 35 of those snaps (76 percent) came on first and second down. In Weeks 1-3, 65 percent of Latu's snaps came on early downs as the Colts eased him into his first year in the NFL largely in obvious pass-rushing situations.
Odeyingbo – who's also a bigger, versatile defensive end – will be counted on as well.
"It's important to have that physicality on the edge, and that's what Dayo brings," Bradley said. "He can rush, he can set the edge, he's stout, he's strong. Versus the run especially, he's an important piece."
Veteran Adam Gotsis, who signed with the Colts' practice squad last week and was brought up to the 53-man roster Tuesday, also will be part of the formula to replace Lewis. The versatile 32-year-old can play both defensive tackle and defensive end; against the Steelers, he lined up as a defensive end on all 14 of his snaps.
The Colts could also consider playing second-year defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore – who played defensive end in college at Northwestern – on the outside as they work through their rotation at defensive end.
"We're looking at all options right now," Bradley said.
