One Concern That Hasn't Been Solved Yet (And How Colts Can Fix It)

The Indianapolis Colts have a much better idea of how their 2026 regular season roster will look after wrapping up training camp late last week, but there are still numerous spots on the depth chart that need convincing.

Head coach Shane Steichen has a training camp and two preseason games to pull from, and while most of the preseason's position battles have a clear favorite, some have brought more questions than answers.

The Colts have their starting center for the foreseeable future in Tanor Bortolini, a budding star in his own right, but what lies beneath him is uninspiring.

Preseason Experience So Far

Aug 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts guard Dalton Tucker (68) looks on during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Quality offensive line depth is so hard to come by in the NFL that it could be considered oxymoronic.

Teams rarely have five quality starters across the offensive front, and those who do greedily strive to field a reliable swing option or two.

The Indianapolis Colts have been fortunate to have top-tier starting units throughout the Chris Ballard era and, more recently, have had solid reserve options on standby, but this year looks bleak.

Offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr.'s projected reserve unit features two intriguing options in rookie guard Jalen Farmer and tackle Luke Tenuta. Still, neither is quite spot-start ready just yet.

The biggest concern across the second-team offense's trenches resides at the center of it all.

The Colts lost longtime backup center Danny Pinter in free agency earlier this offseason when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens to compete for a starting job, and they've been feeling this loss ever since.

Shane Steichen, Tony Sparano Jr., and Co. elected to move third-year guard Dalton Tucker inside to be Pinter's replacement, but the experience throughout training camp and now preseason play has been worrisome.

Tucker struggled to find consistency with either of the Colts' reserve quarterbacks from the start of camp to the finish, resulting in constant snap mishaps that would ultimately derail the corresponding 11-on-11 session.

And now, two preseason games into the 2026 season and Tucker continues to struggle. He had numerous plays during the Colts' 34-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday that ended the play before it could begin.

“I thought he's done a nice job. Obviously, it's a new spot for him and a new role and there's a lot on the center's plate," head coach Shane Steichen said about Tucker's transition inside thus far.

"But I think he's taken it really well mentally and he's still working through that process. But I like his physicality there at that spot. Obviously, rotating from guard to there, that's a big transition, but I thought he's handled it well.”

The transition to a new position is no doubt commendable, but Tucker feels destined to kick back out while the Colts are forced to look for a backup center elsewhere.

The Colts could very well trade for a veteran center for backup duties, but they're more likely to wait for cut day to address their situation before giving up draft capital.

General manager Chris Ballard is likely already scouring the projected waiver wire market, so be on the lookout for a potential claim across the interior offensive line.

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