Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-12 · by Michael Marot The Associated Press
After losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts players are criticizing their defensive performance, particularly focusing on tackling issues. Safety Camryn Bynum emphasized that all 11 defensive players must consistently tackle aggressively. Coach Shane Steichen supported this self-critique, acknowledging that despite daily practice emphasis on tackling, missed opportunities persist, leading to losses against strong physical teams like the AFC North opponents.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
First, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner questioned his own effort.
asserted
Gardner → question → effort
On Sunday, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither critiqued the team’s tackling.
asserted
Gaither → critique → tackling
Now, safety Camryn Bynum is re-enforcing the point that all 11 defensive players must run to the ball on every play.
asserted
players → re → play
But Coach Shane Steichen isn’t complaining about his players sniping.
asserted
players → complain → ?
He likes the fact they’re taking accountability after yet another loss.
asserted
they → like → loss
“I think that’s a positive thing, too,” Steichen said Monday.
asserted
Steichen → think → ?
“We work on tackling every day in practice.
asserted
We → work → practice
Obviously, we can’t take guys to the ground, but we tackle bags, all that stuff, and we’ve got to drill that more and more every day and make it a huge emphasis, so we don’t have any missed tackles going forward.
asserted
we → take → tackles
Steichen made similar comments in September after Indy (2-3) lost 41-23 to Baltimore in the season opener and again after a Week 2 overtime loss at Kansas City.
asserted
Indy → make → City
Over the next two games, the Colts (2-3) defense appeared to be improving.
asserted
defense → appear → games
Then came Sunday’s regression.
asserted
regression → come → ?
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren turned a screen pass into an 80-yard touchdown on Pittsburgh’s first offensive play.
asserted
Warren → turn → play
The Colts later allowed him to score on a 50-yard run, opening the door to talking again about Indy’s sub-par tackling performance.
asserted
him → allow → performance
“I look at tackling as a want-to thing, guys got to want to tackle, want to be physical,” he said.
asserted
he → look → thing
“The AFC North still is known to be physical, so we knew coming in they were going to get the ball out to their guys and see if you’d be willing to tackle them, if you want to tackle them.”
asserted
you → know → them
Davis-Gaither went on to say lineup changes could be next if the poor tackling continues.
uncertain
tackling → go → ?
When asked about the comments Monday, Bynum clarified what he thought Davis-Gaither meant.
asserted
Gaither → ask → what
“I don’t think there’s an issue with want-to,” Bynum said.
asserted
Bynum → think → to
“I know every single person on that field wants to be great, wants to play to the best of their ability and help the team win.
asserted
team → know → ability
I think when he says that, it comes down to a mindset of being nastier coming to the football.
asserted
it → think → football
I think just a little more grit, a little more tenacity when we’re all chasing the ball and there should be 11 players around the ball.
asserted
we → think → ball
I think we do a good job of that, but every single play, it has to be the same tenacity.
asserted
it → think → that
Time will tell how the Colts respond.
asserted
Colts → tell → ?
What’s working
Tight ends.
asserted
Tight → work → ?
Tyler Warren had his best game of the season Sunday, catching seven of his nine targets for 83 yards while rushing for Indy’s only TD and pushing Daniel Jones over the top of a pile for a key first down.
asserted
Warren → have → down
Mo Alie-Cox also caught two big passes in the second half.
asserted
Cox → catch → half
Perhaps this is the start of seeing the TEs used more frequently and creatively.
asserted
TEs → see → ?
What needs help
Finishing drives.
asserted
needs → need → drives
The Colts head into Monday night ranked eighth in the league with a 66.7% touchdown efficiency in the red zone.
asserted
Colts → head → zone
But they also have four fewer touchdowns than their opponents and have more field goal attempts (16) than any other team.
asserted
they → have → team
They need to score TDs and settle for fewer field goals if they want to get back to the playoffs.
asserted
they → need → playoffs
The second-year kicker was nearly flawless last year before injuring multiple ligaments in his left knee.
asserted
kicker → injure → knee
He won back the job in training camp and he hasn’t missed since.
asserted
he → win → camp
Shrader made all five of his field goal attempts, two from 50-plus yards, at Pittsburgh.
asserted
Shrader → make → Pittsburgh
He’s now 33 of 34 on field goals in his career.
asserted
He → ’ → career
This season, he’s 16 of 16 and perfect on six tries from 50 or more yards.
asserted
he → ’ → yards
Not only did Indy give up Warren’s early 80-yard TD catch, it saw Aaron Rodgers complete his first 11 throws, Gardner get stiff-armed by DK Metcalf to help set up a field goal late in the first half and then, down 24-22 and needing a fourth-quarter stop, TE Pat Freiermuth was left wide open for a game-sealing 17-yard TD catch.
asserted
Freiermuth → give → catch
Key injuries
Right tackle Jalen Travis injured his right ankle on a collision late in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Travis → injure → quarter
He limped off the field and returned after being replaced briefly by Luke Tenuta.
asserted
He → limp → Tenuta
Indy placed DE Arden Key on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Saturday.
asserted
Indy → place → Saturday
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
