Arden Key sidelined with hamstring injury, Colts weigh IR decision

The Indianapolis Colts will be without starting defensive end Arden Key for several weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday. The veteran edge rusher, who has been a full-time starter in his first season with the team, is now expected to miss extended time.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed after the game that Key would need a stretch on the sidelines to recover. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the current expectation is a three- to four-week absence for the defensive end. Steichen also noted, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star, that the team has not yet decided whether to place Key on injured reserve.

A stint on IR would automatically sideline Key for at least four games, so the Colts must weigh that timeline against his projected recovery window. Regardless of the final roster move, Indianapolis will have to navigate a meaningful portion of its schedule without one of its starting edge defenders, a setback for a unit that was already relying heavily on its top two options at the position.

Colts thin at edge as workload shifts to young rushers

Through the early part of the season, Key and first-rounder Laiatu Latu have shouldered most of the snaps at defensive end. Neither has produced standout pass-rush numbers so far, but the lack of experienced depth behind them has limited the coaching staff’s flexibility. Key’s injury now forces the Colts to turn to less proven options on the edge.

Speaking about how the team will replace Key, Steichen said the Colts will "work through that," pointing to Caden Curry and Jaylahn Tuimoloau as players already in the rotation and mentioning that George Gumbs could factor in depending on how the week of practice unfolds. That trio is in line to see increased opportunities as the staff reconfigures its defensive front.

Opportunity for Jaylahn Tuimoloau to claim bigger role

Tuimoloau saw limited action as a rookie but had a chance to compete for a starting job this past offseason. The 2025 second-round pick did not do enough in training camp to lock down a first-team role, which led to Key playing a larger share of snaps than initially envisioned. With Key now out, Tuimoloau could move into a much more prominent spot in the rotation.

How Tuimoloau, Curry and potentially Gumbs perform in expanded roles will be closely watched in the coming weeks. Their play could shape not only how the Colts manage Key’s return but also how the organization evaluates its long-term needs at defensive end. For now, Indianapolis must rely on its young pass rushers to sustain the defense while a key veteran starter recovers.