WESTFIELD, Ind – The sun beat down on the football fields at Grand Park Tuesday morning as Laiatu Latu and Tyquan Lewis knelt next to each other on the grass, recovering from the series of snaps they had just played.
The two defensive ends were focused on rehydrating and catching their breath, but in between gulps from their water bottles they were deep in conversation. The exchange lasted no more than one or two minutes, but it was fruitful nonetheless. Latu, the rookie, was picking the brain of his veteran counterpart, eager to learn from the past few plays.
With Samson Ebukam sustaining a torn Achilles' during Sunday's training camp practice, eyes are on Lewis and Latu to fill his role.
"Guys need to step up," head coach Shane Steichen said Tuesday.
Latu and Lewis split time taking snaps with the Colts' first-team defense, and Latu also took reps with the second unit, during practice Tuesday as the Colts played in full pads for the first time.
"I though it was really good," Steichen said. "I liked the way the guys competed today."
"I just like to hit people," Lewis said with a smile.
Entering his seventh season with the Colts, Lewis brings a great deal of experience that is now even more crucial to the Colts defensive line after Ebukam's injury. In his first six seasons, he totaled 26 tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble across 65 games. In 2023, he set a new career high with 44 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus.
"He's tremendous for us," Steichen said. "Just the way he goes about his business every single day, the way he rushes the passer. I mean, he's a leader in that room for a reason. We're extremely excited to have him."
There's no question losing Ebukam was a blow to the Colts' defense, and the team as a whole; Ebukam led the team in sacks (9.5) last season and played in all 17 games, and was widely regarded as one a main leader on the defensive line. He played a critical role in the Colts setting an Indy-era team sack record with 51.
Ebukam's absence has opened a void, but the Colts are confident it will be filled quickly and the defense will be just as productive as it was in 2023.
"There's no question," Lewis said. "That's the main thing, we have to win games. It starts with us up front. As far as production goes, we all contribute as one: one person goes down, next man up."
In this case, it may be more like next men up, as Latu is right in the mix alongside Lewis. Latu's explosiveness and pass-rushing skills showed both during team work and one-on-one reps Tuesday, as he matched up with Bernhard Raimann, Blake Freeland and the rest of the offensive line with no fear.
"He's impressive," Raimann said. "He seems to fit right into the defense. He's quick, he's physical, he fits the run game – he's hard to block in the run game because he's so twitchy. And then same in pass-rush as well. You've got to bring your A-game against him."
Latu's motor was something that stood out to Steichen during the pre-draft scouting process, and it's directly translated into training camp practices just a few days in.
"Even if he gets around the edge and the quarterback steps out, boom. He's turning and running, trying to go get him," Steichen said. "That's what really stood out to me about him, was his relentless effort."
And it's not just on the field where Latu is putting in that effort; he's eager to learn anything and everything he can, and he absorbs it all quickly. He takes the feedback from his teammates and coaches in stride and uses it to improve every day. In his mind, he was fighting for a starting spot even before Ebukam's injury.
"I'm just going to keep on carrying on like I have been," Latu said. "Fighting to prove that I can be up there playing with the big dogs. So I'm just going to keep on doing that, nothing changes for me."
News and notes
- Defensive end Samson Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles' during Sunday's practice, Steichen confirmed. Defensive end Titus Leo exited Tuesday's practice with a knee injury.
- Right tackle Braden Smith participated in full-team work for the first time this camp. Blake Freeland rotated in at right tackle as well as the Colts bring Smith along following offseason knee surgery.
- Linebacker Jaylon Carlies sniffed out and stopped a screen during 11-on-11.
- Linebacker Segun Olubi forced a fumble with a punch-out later in 11-on-11.
- Defensive end Laiatu Latu skirted around the edge and got past offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann for what would have been a sack during 11-on-11.
- Quarterback Anthony Richardson connected with wide receiver Josh Downs on a deep ball during seven-on-seven.
- Latu showed off his explosiveness and used his hands to get around offensive tackle Blake Freeland during a one-on-one rep.
- Kicker Matt Gay made all of his field goal attempts, including one from a little over 50 yards, during the Colts' first placekicking drills of training camp.
