With injuries at the linebacker position, the Indianapolis Colts defense received two big plays from some unlikely contributors.
EJ Speed was ruled out before the game with a knee injury after being downgraded to doubtful on Saturday. In his place when in nickel was rookie Jaylon Carlies, and when in base, Grant Stuard came onto the field to be the third linebacker.
Carlies entered Sunday’s game as one of PFF’s highest-graded rookies and were off to a fast start, totaling five solo tackles, one of which was for a loss and a sack on a blitz.
Unfortunately, Carlies would exit in the first half with an ankle injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game a short while later.
This then put Stuard as the nickel backer next to Zaire Franklin and Segun Olubi as the third linebacker when in their 4-3 alignment.
A week ago, the Colts were leaned mostly on Speed and Franklin at the linebacker position–as they always do. Now, in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against Miami, they were relying heavily on the fourth and fifth linebackers on their depth chart.
However, credit to Stuard and Olubi, who both rose to the occasion with key second half plays.
With the Colts trailing 10-3 and the offense stagnant, the Dolphins were approaching midfield on a rush from Raheem Mostert when Olubi forced a fumble, recovered it, and then returned it 18 yards, giving the Colts offense the ball at the Miami 28 yard line.
Four plays later, the Colts offense found the end zone, and just like that, the game was tied.
Two Dolphins’ possessions late, Miami was driving and in the Colts’ red zone. But now it was Stuard’s turn. On a running play to fullback Alec Ingold, Stuard met Ingold near the line of scrimmage, which allowed Franklin to then force the fumble which Taven Bryan recovered.
Although the Colts offense was unable to score, Stuard, Franklin, Bryan, and the Indianapolis defense took at least three points off the board with that fumble.
On the day, Stuard finished with 19 tackles, 11 of which were solo, leading the team in both categories. Olubi finished the game with five tackles.