Putting on full pads and a uniform is like a drug.
That's what Laiatu Latu said after he finished playing in his first NFL preseason game Sunday, as he stood in the Colts locker room with a grin on his face. The final score – 34-30, in favor of the Denver Broncos – didn't really matter to the rookie, who was just happy to be out on the field.
"It felt amazing," Latu said. "Being out there, playing with my guys I've been in training camp with the whole time. It was amazing."
Weeks of training camp practices in the blazing sun and misty morning rain, constant battles with offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann and sacks that aren't really sacks because you can't hit the quarterback had all simply been stepping stones to this moment.
For the first time in his NFL career, Latu was able to play at Lucas Oil Stadium with his teammates beside him and true opponents in front of him.
But even with all of that pressure on the first-round draft pick to show up and show out, he approached it as if it was just another day.
"Honestly, I didn't have any expectations," Latu said. "I just tried to go out there and rock like I do."
Rock, he did.
With the Colts aiming to give everyone a chance to play Sunday, as is typical for preseason games, Latu didn't see an extensive number of snaps. But on the snaps the defensive end was on the field for, you knew he was there.
While it won't show up on the stat sheet, as he only recorded one tackle and one pressure, Latu's presence on the field was significant. He consistently put pressure on the Broncos' offensive line and quarterback, playing just like he did during the Colts' training camp practices.
"He brings a lot of energy to our football team," head coach Shane Steichen said.
But the rookie doesn't just want to bring energy to the team. He wants to show up on the stat sheet.
"I just hold myself to a certain standard, I want to have a clean, crisp rush," Latu said. "But I am understanding that in this league, the little thing that you do to get back there goes a long way."
Expectations have been high for Latu ever since the Colts drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and they only continue to rise as the regular season approaches. And it's not just the Colts who think highly of Latu; on his very first NFL rep, Latu was double-teamed and chipped.
Was he surprised?
"Hell yeah," Latu said. "That was a little wakeup call, I guess."
But to Latu, it's a badge of honor.
"They're respecting my game a little bit," Latu said.
It may have been the first time Latu realized what other NFL teams thought about him, but it won't be the last. With joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals this week and two more preseason games to go, Latu will have even more chances to show what he's capable of.
While the first preseason game may have been marked on the calendar for a while, the Colts season opener is circled, highlighted and starred. Because if putting on a uniform and running through the tunnel for a preseason game is like a drug, what's that day going to be like?
