The Colts’ defensive line took a significant hit on Sunday.
Starting defensive end Samson Ebukam sustained a torn Achilles tendon during practice, a league source confirmed to IndyStar, which will end his season after just three days of training camp.
Ebukam, coming off a standout season where he recorded a career-high 9.5 sacks, played a crucial role in a Colts pass rush that amassed 51 sacks overall—the fifth-most in the NFL and the highest by any Colts defense since the team relocated to Indianapolis in 1984.
The 29-year-old edge rusher was instrumental in that success.
Ebukam was the Colts’ top outside free-agent acquisition in 2023, signing a three-year, $24 million deal. Previously, he had been a complementary player in six seasons with the Rams and 49ers, but Indianapolis believed he could excel in the right environment.
The Colts’ confidence was well-placed.
Ebukam set a career high with 702 snaps for Indianapolis in 2023, leading the team in sacks and finishing second in both quarterback hits (17, tied with Dayo Odeyingbo) and pressures (44), only behind star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in those categories.
Losing a player of his caliber is a significant blow.
However, the Colts have options to mitigate the impact of Ebukam’s absence.
Indianapolis used its first-round pick to select UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, the first defensive player chosen in the 2024 draft, who fits well into the LEO position that Ebukam occupied last season. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley designed the LEO role to utilize smaller edge rushers effectively, and Latu is exactly the type of pass rusher the Colts aim to maximize on the field.
“He’s explosive, as we noted when we drafted him,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Sunday. “He has a range of pass-rush moves. You can see his explosiveness coming off the edge, so it will be exciting to watch him this year.”
Latu is likely not the only player expected to help fill Ebukam’s role.
Four defensive ends—Ebukam, Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis—logged more than 400 snaps last season, and Latu’s presence was already anticipated to affect the playing-time distribution.
With Ebukam out, Lewis has stepped into his spot on the starting defensive line, and Odeyingbo, who typically rushes from the interior but has the agility to play on the outside during running plays, will also contribute.
Additionally, the Colts have other depth options for the LEO position. Veteran defensive end Genard Avery, who has 8.5 career sacks and missed last season due to a knee injury, is back. The team also has promising developmental prospects in second-year edge rushers Isaiah Land and Titus Leo. Land had six tackles and a sack in just 31 snaps last season, while Leo was a sixth-round pick last year.
While the loss of Ebukam removes a proven veteran from the lineup, it increases the pressure on Latu to make an immediate impact.
A healthy Ebukam would have allowed Latu to concentrate mainly on pass-rushing duties.
Now, Latu may need to adapt more quickly to a complete role.
“Right now, we’re seeing the skill set we observed in college: his speed off the ball, his moves,” Bradley said. “But once the pads are on, and it’s not just pass but also run-pass situations, can he adjust? Can he apply those skills effectively in all scenarios? He seems to be heading in the right direction.”
The Colts will need Latu to continue progressing to fill the gap left by Ebukam.
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