The Indianapolis Colts are a team in transition heading into the 2023 NFL season.

When the Colts made just their second postseason appearance in six years in 2020, it seemed they were in a position to regain their AFC South contender status.

Alas, it has been anything but smooth sailing for the Horseshoe the past two seasons. Since their AFC Wild Card Game loss to the Buffalo Bills at the end of the 2020 NFL season, they have regressed considerably.

New Colts head coach Shane Steichen and Co. have a daunting task ahead of them when the season kicks off in the fall.

 

Looking Back At The Colts’ 2022 NFL Season

Behind Jonathan Taylor’s impressive 2021 NFL season (he led the NFL with 1,811 rushing yards), the 9-6 Colts were in a good position to lock up a second straight postseason appearance.

Instead, they lost their last two games and kissed their postseason aspirations goodbye. Unfortunately, it didn’t get any better for the Horseshoe in 2022.

As the 2022 NFL season drew near, the Colts were confident the acquisition of 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan would help them fix their quarterback woes once and for all. Regrettably, it blew up in their faces – Ryan looked lost more times than Colts fans could possibly count last season.

To make matters worse, he had to work behind the worst offensive line in pro football in 2022. Ryan, who had 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, had one of the worst statistical seasons in his illustrious NFL career.

The Colts also dealt with injuries to Taylor and middle linebacker Shaquille Leonard last season – they had a combined 14 appearances in 2022.

Notable names who struggled for the Colts last season included Mo Allie-Cox, Michael Pittman, Jr., Bernhard Raimann, and Matt Pryor. Pryor, in particular, had issues holding off edge rushers at left tackle – another issue the Colts must address in 2023.

Indianapolis Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann

Colts LT Bernhard Raimann (79) – Eric Christian Smith/AP

When you combine the injuries, struggles, and issues at quarterback and offensive line, it made for a forgettable season for the Horseshoe. After a decent 3-2-1 start, the Colts promptly lost 11 of their next 12 games.

Even the controversial hiring of Jeff Saturday, one of the best offensive linemen in franchise history, wasn’t enough to save Indy’s lost season. Saturday went a dismal 1-7 in what was likely his first and last foray into coaching at the NFL level.

To add insult to injury, the Colts traded reliable running back and punt return specialist Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills prior to their midseason implosion on November 1, 2022.

Indianapolis finished the 2022 NFL season with an abysmal 4-12-1 record – its worst since 2017. Hines had the last laugh as he and the Bills reached the AFC Divisional Round while the Colts’ playoff futility continued yet again.

 

The Colts’ 2023 Offseason So Far

There’s nowhere to go but up for the struggling Indianapolis Colts in 2023.

Despite rumblings about a potential trade for disgruntled Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Colts owner Jim Irsay and GM Chris Ballard stuck to their guns and rebuilt the Colts via the 2023 NFL Draft.

What a draft that was – it was one of the most memorable draft hauls in recent franchise history.

The first order of business was drafting their team’s next franchise quarterback – Anthony Richardson. Although Richardson needs to work on his accuracy, his off-the-charts athleticism will help him thrive at quarterback for the Horseshoe.

Indy’s impressive 12-man draft haul also included cornerback Julius Brents, wide receiver Josh Downs, and offensive tackle Blake Freeland. All three rookies have the potential to make an immediate impact in 2023.

With the way things are going, Freeland and second-year man Bernhard Raimann are the Colts’ best options at left tackle. If the latter can put his struggles from 2022 behind him, the Colts are taking a huge step in the right direction.

On the other hand, the pair of Richardson and Jonathan Taylor is one of the most athletic quarterback-running back duos in the NFL. It should be fun watching them strut their wares on the gridiron for the next several years.

For its part, the Colts’ defense should get a major boost with the much-anticipated return of inside linebacker Shaquille Leonard this season. Despite boosting their secondary with rookies Julius Brents, Darius Rush, and Jaylon Jones, the Colts’ cornerback crops suffered a huge blow in the wake of Isaiah Rodgers, Sr.’s alleged betting on football this past week.

The news comes at a bad time for Rodgers, who has become one of the most reliable players in Indy’s secondary. If the allegations are true, a hefty fine and/or suspension are in the offing. Although Brents and the other rookie cornerbacks have big shoes to fill, they should pick up the slack nicely.

As of this writing, some of the team’s new acquisitions include kicker Matt Gay, quarterback Gardner Minshew, defensive end Samson Ebukam, wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie and Breshad Perriman, and tight end Pharaoh Brown. It will be interesting to see if they can make an impact in their first year in Indy.

 

Immediate Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season

It bears repeating: the Indianapolis Colts are a team in transition. On paper, it seemed Ballard and his team plugged some of Indy’s gaping holes via the draft and free agency.

However, with many new faces on the roster, it will take some time for this unit to mesh seamlessly. Expect many hiccups and growing pains for this young group in the 2023 NFL season.

Set your postseason expectations aside for now. This is not a playoff team. If the Colts win at least seven games in 2023, they are headed in the right direction.

If everything falls into place, Indy will return to postseason contention within the next two to three years.