Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts

The 2024 NFL season has forced the Indianapolis Colts to adapt quickly to a wave of key injuries, turning setbacks into opportunities to refine their strategy and showcase roster depth. From losing starting quarterback Anthony Richardson early to injuries on the offensive line and secondary, the Colts’ coaching staff—led by head coach Shane Steichen—has made targeted strategic adjustments to keep the team in playoff contention. These changes haven’t just filled gaps; they’ve optimized the strengths of remaining players, turning potential weaknesses into unexpected advantages. Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts explores the most impactful tweaks to the offense, defense, and special teams, how they’ve performed on the field, and why they’ve been critical to the Colts’ resilience.

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts begins with the offensive shift after starting quarterback Anthony Richardson’s Week 4 shoulder injury, which sidelined him for most of the season. With backup Gardner Minshew taking over, Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter adjusted the playbook to leverage Minshew’s strengths: quick decision-making, accurate short-to-intermediate passing, and mobility. They reduced deep passing attempts (from 12% of plays to 7%) and increased play-action passes (from 21% to 28%), using running back Jonathan Taylor’s threat to open up intermediate routes for wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Minshew also took on a more hands-on role in pre-snap adjustments, calling audibles to avoid blitzes that Richardson might have evaded with his legs. The results were clear: Minshew threw for 2,842 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first 12 starts, leading the Colts to a 7-5 record during that stretch. “We didn’t try to make Gardner play like Anthony—we built a strategy around what Gardner does best,” Steichen said. “That’s the key to adjusting after injuries: play to your remaining players’ strengths, not the ones you lost.”

A key strategic adjustment came on the offensive line after Pro Bowl left guard Quenton Nelson’s Week 6 knee sprain and right tackle Braden Smith’s Week 8 triceps injury left two critical spots vacant. With backups Will Fries (left guard) and Blake Freeland (right tackle) stepping in, offensive line coach Chris Strausser simplified blocking schemes to reduce complexity for the inexperienced pair. He shifted from zone-blocking (which requires precise timing between linemen) to more man-to-man blocking, letting Fries and Freeland focus on single opponents rather than coordinated moves. The staff also adjusted the running game, directing 65% of Taylor’s carries to the left side (behind veteran left tackle Bernhard Raimann) instead of splitting carries evenly. This reduced pressure on the new linemen and played to Raimann’s strength as a run-blocker. The adjustment paid off: Taylor rushed for 894 yards in the 10 games after the line injuries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry—only 0.2 yards less than his pre-injury average. “Simplifying doesn’t mean dumbing down,” Strausser explained. “It means giving our backups the best chance to succeed by playing to their comfort zones.”

A critical aspect of Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts is the defensive tweak after nickelback JuJu Brents’ Week 9 hamstring injury, which left a gap in the secondary—and what it means for the current Indianapolis Colts team. With Brents sidelined, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley shifted from a base 4-3 defense to a 3-4 nickel package, moving linebacker Zaire Franklin into a hybrid safety-nickel role. Franklin, a tackling machine with strong coverage skills, was tasked with guarding slot receivers and blitzing from the secondary—a role he hadn’t played regularly since college. Bradley also increased zone coverage (from 45% to 60%) to help compensate for the secondary’s inexperience, using Franklin’s football IQ to read routes and direct teammates. The adjustment worked: the Colts allowed 20 fewer passing yards per game in the five weeks after Brents’ injury, and Franklin recorded 1.5 sacks and two interceptions in his new role. “Zaire’s versatility let us turn a secondary injury into a defensive upgrade,” Bradley said. For the Indianapolis Colts, this adjustment wasn’t just a short-term fix—it uncovered a new way to use Franklin’s talents, making the defense more flexible even if Brents returns. It’s a reminder that injuries can reveal hidden strategic opportunities.

Another important adjustment came on special teams after kick returner Darius Rush’s Week 12 ankle injury, which forced the Colts to rethink their return game—and how it supports the Indianapolis Colts’ field position battle. With Rush out, special teams coordinator Brian Mason turned to wide receiver Alec Pierce, who had limited return experience but possessed speed (4.41 40-yard dash) and strong hands. Mason simplified the return scheme, reducing pre-snap motion and focusing on Pierce’s ability to read blocks and accelerate through gaps. He also adjusted the kickoff coverage unit, shifting more players to the front to prevent long returns, as the Colts couldn’t afford to give up field position while breaking in a new returner. The changes paid off: Pierce averaged 24.3 yards per kick return in his first four games, including a 42-yard return in Week 14 that set up a game-tying field goal. The coverage unit also improved, allowing just 19.8 yards per return—down from 22.1 before the adjustment. “Special teams adjustments are often overlooked, but they’re critical for field position,” Mason said. For the Indianapolis Colts, this tweak kept the return game viable and ensured the team didn’t lose a key part of its game plan due to injury.

Wrapping up Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts is the broader lesson of the Colts’ adaptive approach: that strategic flexibility is just as important as talent in the NFL. Every injury forced the coaching staff to ask, “What do we still have, and how can we make it work?” rather than dwelling on what was lost. This mindset has not only kept the Colts in the AFC South race but also built a more resilient team—one that can adjust to unexpected changes, even in high-pressure moments. Steichen emphasized that these adjustments were a team effort, with players providing feedback on what worked and what didn’t. “Injuries test everyone—coaches, players, staff,” Steichen said. “But they also bring us closer, because we have to rely on each other more. That’s the silver lining.” For the Indianapolis Colts, the strategic adjustments after injuries have been more than a survival tactic—they’ve been a growth experience, turning a challenging season into a chance to build a more versatile, cohesive team. As the Colts push for the playoffs, this adaptability will remain one of their greatest strengths. Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Indianapolis Colts isn’t just about overcoming loss; it’s about reimagining what’s possible—and winning in spite of it.