JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
Colts.com contributor Amanda Foster on the Indianapolis Colts as they enter the Week 14 matchup against the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium.
Question: It feels almost like a playoff atmosphere, but in the regular season.
Answer: Yes, especially when you think about the AFC South implications for both teams heading into Sunday's game. Fans here talk a lot about the losing streak that the Colts have at Jacksonville. I would assume it's a big one for both sides, but I can definitely confirm it is for us here in Indianapolis.
Q: The Colts are dealing with injuries to some key players. Obviously, quarterback Daniel Jones has the leg injury he has been playing through, and then cornerback Sauce Gardner has that calf strain. What's the latest on that and do you expect any changes this week?
A: Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen said on Monday Gardner will not be placed on injured reserve, but he is expected to miss some time. Jones is kind of business as usual. Jones did say on Sunday after the Houston Texans game that he's feeling better than he did the week before against the Kansas City Chiefs. The hope with Jones is that he'll continue to keep feeling better as this week goes on and as the rest of the season goes along.
Q: The big matchup in this game is going to be the Jaguars' great run-stopping defense versus the best running back in league in Jonathan Taylor. From your perspective, what have you seen from Jonathan Taylor this year that has put him over the top? He always has been talented, but what has gotten him to this level?
A: It has gotten to the point where it's hard to put into words exactly what he can do because he just goes out there and delivers with his talent. We've seen how shifty he is and how well he can break through defenses, but there's not a great way to describe it. We've even heard that from coaches and players, "That's just what Jonathan does." I will say a big part of it is the talent of the offensive line. Guard Quentin Nelson and the guys that just break out in the open field and run. They're contributing a lot to his successes this season. The last few games we've seen Taylor contribute, but not in the way that he was in the beginning of the year. The hope this week is that they can figure out some of the details that they might have been missing the last few games. That way they can all kind of get on the same page again this weekend.
Q: Going forward, if Gardner is not able to play, what do you think the defensive focus will be for the Colts this week?
A: This secondary, the cornerback room specifically, has dealt with so much turnover this entire season. You don't want to lose a player like Sauce Gardner, but these guys are no stranger to the 'next man up' mentality. They've constantly had to shift in and out, bring guys in off the bench, or off the practice squad all year. Gardner's injury will change the specifics of the scheme that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo wants to use. Cornerback Charvarius Ward is very good with man-to-man coverage, and I expect he'll do more of that. All these guys have built chemistry together because there has been so much change, and it will look different, but I wouldn't expect a big drop off.
Q: Do you have an X-factor player on either side of the ball that you feel like will need to have a good game if the Colts want to get a win?
A: I think Jonathan Taylor is kind of the obvious one. I think Alec Pierce could also be one to watch. Last year when they went to Jacksonville, he ended up having a pretty big game and he had a very big game against the Texans this past week. As a deep ball, he's one to keep an eye on. Defensively, I think it's just the whole defense if you will, but Ward is also kind of due for a big game. If the secondary can all work together in the way that we know that they can, that would be bigger than any one player.
