Jaylon Carlies

He was expected to be the other starting Colts linebacker next to Zaire Franklin, but Carlies did not play a single preseason snap while dealing with recovery from an offseason shoulder surgery. Carlies will miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Longtime Bengal Joe Bachie might be the favorite to step in as Indy’s LB2 at the start of the season.

Carlies started six of the 10 games he appeared in last season for the Colts, and totaled 36 tackles, two TFLs, and one sack in his rookie campaign. The second-year pro moved from safety to linebacker in his first season and dealt with an ankle injury that caused him to miss multiple weeks, but Ballard said the team expects him to be ready by training camp. Carlies has a chance to build on a successful rookie campaign and establish himself as an every-down starter once healthy.