Colts’ GM Chris Ballard recently evaluated the depth of the offensive line room.
Within the offensive line room this season, the Indianapolis Colts will be relying on a number of relatively inexperienced players.
At center and right guard will be first-time starters and second-year players Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves.
Providing depth along the offensive line will be rookie Jalen Travis, who is the Colts’ swing tackle off the bench, filling in at right or left tackle if needed.
“I think Jalen Travis is going to be excellent,” Chris Ballard said. “He is big. Now, that’s one that I’m not going to say surprised me, but he’s coming along faster than I thought he would, and he’s a much better athlete.”
Along with Travis, second-year lineman Dalton Tucker, who played 464 snaps as a rookie, will provide depth at guard.
“I like where Tucker is at,” Ballard said. “Tucker’s really come along. Being an undrafted guy a year ago, having to be thrown in the mix and start some games. He had some struggles, but bounced back from that. I’m excited for him.”
Luke Tenuta has been in the NFL since 2022, but has just seven career snaps on offense.
“His (Tenuta) ability to play both left and right tackle–so yeah, I feel pretty good about our depth there,” Ballard added.
Around these players is still plenty of experience between Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, and Danny Pinter. But this year’s offensive line room for the Colts is younger and less experienced than last year’s.
Both Bortolini and Goncalves have acclimated well to their starting roles this summer, which will continue to be a must for the Colts’ offense.
With Bortolini, in particular, ESPN’s Ben Solak was impressed with his preseason film.
While all eyes will be on the quarterback play, consistency for the offense begins with the offensive line providing Daniel Jones with a run game to lean on and time in the pocket.