The Indianapolis Colts are preparing to begin the 2019 season on the road with an afternoon matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park in Week 1.
As both teams get ready for the season opener, they are both dealing with issues that can be causes for concern. For the Colts, there are also reasons to be optimistic they can pull out a win on the road.
Here are three reasons for optimism for the Colts in Week 1:
Chargers are dealing with injuries, holdouts
Every team is dealing with injuries in one way or another, but the Chargers have been hit pretty hard. Two of their biggest impact players in safety Derwin James and left tackle Russell Okung are expected to miss the majority of the first half of the season.
The Chargers are also dealing with contract holdout of running back Melvin Gordon. They don’t expect him to return for Sunday’s opener and will be relying on Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson to lead the backfield. Both are solid in their own right, but neither has the skill set of Gordon.
The Colts have their own issues to deal with, but the Chargers are going to be down a few impact players when the teams battle it out on Sunday.
Jacoby Brissett has been working with the first team
The sudden retirement of Andrew Luck puts the Colts in a tough situation, but they are fully confident in his successor, who has been working with the first-team offense since the beginning of the spring workouts.
Having taken over 1,200 reps with the first team between the spring and preseason—according to head coach Frank Reich—this will help alleviate some of the concerns with Brissett running the offense. Of course, he’s not an elite quarterback like Luck was, but there is no reason to believe the Colts should be a bottom-10 offense. At least, not yet.
The Colts believe enough in Brissett to give him a new two-year deal that included $20 million guaranteed, and the fact that he’s been working all offseason with the first team should help with the outlook of the offense.
Chargers offensive line is suspect
We know the Chargers will be without veteran left tackle Russell Okung, who is among the top players at his position across the league. The offensive tackles the Chargers will roll out are likely Trent Scott at left tackle and Sam Tevi at right tackle.
Center Mike Pouncey is still a solid player, but there are legitimate reasons for concern amongst Chargers fans. The Colts pass rush and run defense should have an opportunity to make a strong impact in this game—even without the likes of veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard.
There aren’t a ton of weaknesses on the Chargers roster, but the offensive line is certainly one of them. And it could be a reason the Colts come away with a road win to begin their season.
