Colts Final Week 12 Injury Update vs Chiefs: Jaylon Carlies Out

The Colts final Week 12 injury update is in ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arrowhead. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies has been ruled out, while Charvarius Ward and Tyquan Lewis are listed as questionable against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game kicks off Sunday afternoon in Kansas City with major AFC seeding implications.

This is the last official injury report before inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff. It confirms that Indianapolis will be without one defender but could regain two others who were previously on injured reserve. Head coach Shane Steichen and team officials have also provided clarity on quarterback Daniel Jones and key rotational pass rusher Samson Ebukam.

Colts final Week 12 injury update before facing Chiefs

The headline news is that Jaylon Carlies will not play. The young linebacker was designated to return from injured reserve this week and practiced fully on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but the team kept him on IR and listed him as out with an ankle injury. His regular-season debut for Indianapolis will have to wait.

Two defenders carry a questionable tag into Sunday. Defensive end Tyquan Lewis is listed as questionable with a groin injury after missing recent games. He did not practice early in the week, then upgraded to limited work before logging a full session on Friday, a typical sign of progress even if the team is not ready to declare him active yet.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward is also officially questionable with a concussion designation. However, Steichen has confirmed that Ward has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and indicated that the plan is for him to play against his former team, provided there are no late setbacks. Ward’s 21-day practice window from injured reserve was opened earlier in the week, and he practiced fully all three days.

On the positive side, Samson Ebukam is set to be available. The veteran edge rusher had been dealing with a knee issue and was limited earlier in the week, but he finished as a full participant and does not carry a game status designation. That means he is expected to dress as normal in the pass-rush rotation.

Quarterback Daniel Jones briefly appeared on the report with a calf issue after being limited on Thursday. He returned as a full participant on Friday and has been cleared to start against Kansas City. Team and national reports have emphasized that there is no concern about his availability for this pivotal AFC matchup.

Other Colts who were on the report but carry no game status include defensive tackle Grover Stewart (rest), cornerback Kenny Moore II (rest), and wide receiver and returner Anthony Gould (knee). All are on track to play, giving Indianapolis most of its core intact on both sides of the ball.

How the Colts’ injury picture shapes the challenge in Kansas City

Losing Jaylon Carlies for at least one more week is a setback for the Colts’ linebacker depth. The team had hoped his return from an ankle injury would add speed and length to the second level, especially against an Andy Reid offense that loves to test linebackers with motion and option routes. Instead, Indianapolis will lean again on its existing rotation at off-ball linebacker.

The bigger story for Sunday’s matchup is in the secondary and defensive front. Getting Charvarius Ward back from a concussion is a significant boost. He is expected to start opposite Sauce Gardner on the outside, giving the Colts two high-level corners against Patrick Mahomes and a Chiefs offense that still threatens vertically even without a full-strength run game. Ward’s familiarity with Kansas City’s scheme from his earlier career there is an added bonus in game planning.

Tyquan Lewis’ status could quietly matter just as much. If he is able to go, Indianapolis can roll out a deeper defensive line rotation featuring Ebukam, Lewis and the rest of the edge group. That depth helps the Colts keep fresh rushers on the field in long drives, something that has historically been crucial against Mahomes, who thrives when given extra time in the pocket.

On offense, the clean bill of health for Daniel Jones stabilizes everything. Jones has been one of the league’s more efficient passers this season and is central to why the Colts sit near the top of the AFC standings. With his calf responding well enough to practice fully on Friday, Indianapolis can run its normal game plan instead of scrambling to prepare a backup at the last minute.

The Chiefs have their own issues, most notably ruling out running back Isiah Pacheco with a knee injury and listing rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy and guard Kingsley Suamataia as questionable. That means both teams enter Sunday with key players missing but their franchise quarterback situations settled.

In short, the Colts final Week 12 injury update confirms they will be short one promising linebacker but likely regain a starting corner and potentially a key edge rusher. With Daniel Jones and most of the core available, Indianapolis heads into Arrowhead close to full strength for one of the most important games of its season.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who is out for the Colts in Week 12 vs. the Chiefs?

Linebacker Jaylon Carlies is ruled out with an ankle injury after practicing fully this week. He remains on injured reserve and will not be activated for Sunday’s game.

Q2: Is Charvarius Ward expected to play against the Chiefs?

Charvarius Ward is officially listed as questionable with a concussion. However, he has cleared the league’s concussion protocol, and Shane Steichen has indicated that Ward is expected to play barring any late setback.

Q3: What is Tyquan Lewis’ status for Week 12?

Tyquan Lewis is questionable due to a groin injury. He ramped up from limited work to a full practice on Friday, which is an encouraging sign, but his final status will be decided when inactives are released before kickoff.

Q4: Is Daniel Jones fully cleared to start for the Colts?

Yes. Daniel Jones appeared on the report with a calf issue but practiced fully on Friday. Coaches and national reports state he is good to go and will start against Kansas City.

Q5: Which other Colts players were on the injury report but will play?

Samson Ebukam (knee), Anthony Gould (knee), Grover Stewart (rest), and Kenny Moore II (rest) all practiced by the end of the week with no game status. They are expected to be active on Sunday.