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Colts training camp battles: Evaluating competition for starting DE role
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- Colts training camp battles: Evaluating competition for starting DE role
Training camp for the Indianapolis Colts kicks off in about a month, so as part of our preview of what's to come, we will be evaluating each positional battle that is expected to unfold.
What took place during offseason programs laid the foundation for each of these competitions and provided us with some insights into where things may stand. That said, how training camp and the preseason unfold will ultimately determine who wins these roles.
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Next up is the defensive end position.
What Colts ' training camp battle is taking place at defensive end?
With Kwity Paye no longer on the team, the starting role opposite of Laiatu Latu is up for grabs.
What do we know about this positional battle?
The Colts experienced heavy roster turnover at this position this offseason. Paye, Samson Ebukam , and Tyquan Lewis are no longer on the team, while Arden Key , Micheal Clemons , George Gumbs Jr., and Caden Curry were all offseason additions.
However, it would appear that Key and Jaylahn Tuimoloau are the front-runners for this starting job.
The experience gained by Tuimoloau last year has proven to be valuable , as has having a full offseason to work on his craft, rather than going through the pre-draft evaluation process. Those factors hopefully faciliate a Year 2 jump.
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Key, meanwhile, has had steady pass rush production during his career.
Predicting the winner of this competition
For now, I'll defer to experience, which Key has a lot more of than Tuimoloau. But this is starting spot very much seems to be up for grabs heading into training camp.
Regardless of whether it's Key or Tuimoloau who starts, the Colts need more pass rush juice around Latu this season. While Latu was productive last season, the production around him was inconsistent.
That said, it remains to be seen if Key or Tuimoloau can provide that high-end pass-rushing presence. That is one of the big unknowns on this Colts' roster entering the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp battles: Evaluating competition for starting DE role
