Every NFL team has players it can’t afford to lose. Injuries and other absences are always a factor in a franchise’s direction, and Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon is no stranger to how quickly a team can collapse when key players start missing games. She witnessed it firsthand last year when the Colts started 8-2 and ended 8-9. Irsay-Gordon, however, likened the Colts’ unraveling to pressing pause on a movie. She claimed the conclusion to the 2025 campaign wasn’t the real ending, noting the Colts’ wide array of injuries, most notably to quarterback Daniel Jones.This year, Irsay-Gordon is hopeful that with better health and a revamped roster, this version of the Colts can deliver an Oscar-worthy finish by finally ending their five-year playoff drought. Some may think her faith is admirable. Others may view it as naïve. Either way, how far the Colts go will likely be determined by the performance of their most indispensable players. Who are they? Let’s take a look at the top 10 players the Colts cannot afford to lose in 2026.Offense1. QB Daniel JonesIt’s obvious, but there’s no other place to start than with the starting quarterback. The Colts stamped Jones as the face of their franchise by rewarding him this offseason with a two-year, $88 million contract that included $50 million guaranteed at signing. Last year, he was playing at a Pro Bowl-level before fracturing his left fibula, which he played through, and then suffering a season-ending torn right Achilles. Questions about Jones’ mobility and durability are valid, and if he’s unable to regain his pre-injury form — or worse, if he suffers another major injury — the Colts may as well kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr., who are competing for the backup job, are fine reserve options if Jones misses a few games, but they’re too volatile to rely on for an extended period of time.Was Daniel Jones declining before season-ending injury in 2025?Robert Mays2. RB Jonathan TaylorTaylor is so vital to the Colts’ success this year that there’s a compelling argument for him to hold-in for a new contract before he steps foot on the field again. The three-time Pro Bowler is coming off his second straight season of at least 1,400 rushing yards, and he totaled a league-high 20 touchdowns in 2025. Indianapolis hardly has any reliable depth behind Taylor, with rookie seventh-round pick Seth McGowan and 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens jockeying for the backup role. Giddens totaled just 96 rushing yards in nine games last season. Make no mistake, if Taylor misses time, the Colts’ running game will be in big trouble.3. LT Bernhard RaimannRaimann inked a four-year, $100 million contract extension last year that solidified him as the Colts’ left tackle of the future. Playing at a high level is even more critical this year considering Jones is returning from an Achilles injury. Indianapolis can’t afford for Jones to constantly be under duress from his blindside, so Raimann must be a pillar of consistent protection, or else Indy’s whole offense will crumble.4. WR Alec PiercePierce takes over as the Colts’ undisputed No. 1 receiver after the team retained him on a four-year, $114 million deal and subsequently traded veteran Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittman led the Colts in receptions in four of the past five seasons. Pierce will see an increased target share in Pittman’s absence, but what makes him special is his ability to stretch the field. The 26-year-old, who is currently rehabbing from left ankle surgery, has led the league in yards per reception in each of the past two seasons, and his ability to attack the deep part of the field cannot be replicated by anyone else on the roster if he goes down.5. LG Quenton NelsonNelson is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, evidenced by the eight straight Pro Bowl nods he’s earned to start his career. The only other offensive lineman in NFL history to do that: Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas. Similar to Raimann, Nelson’s presence is even more important this year when noting that Jones will try to complete his first full season since 2022, which, fittingly, is when he led the New York Giants to the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Colts, obviously, are hoping to replicate that success.Defense1. DE Laiatu LatuLatu takes the top spot on defense for two reasons: First, he plays arguably the most important position, and second, the Colts have no other proven difference-makers at defensive end on their roster. Because of that, they need Latu, a 2024 first-round pick and the first defensive player drafted that year, to have a breakout season. He played well last year, tallying three interceptions, 12 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. This year, he must crack double digits in the sack department, something a Colts player hasn’t done since Justin Houston recorded 11 sacks in 2019. If Latu isn’t a game-changer up front, Indy’s defense will fall apart at the point of attack.2. CB Sauce GardnerGardner is entering his first full season with the Colts after being acquired in a blockbuster trade deadline deal last year with the New York Jets. Of course, Gardner’s performance will garner plenty of attention since Indy surrendered two first-round picks to get him. He’s supposed to be the unquestioned top dog in the cornerback room, and he’ll have plenty of chances to prove it amid a schedule that features standout wide receivers Nico Collins, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, DeVonta Smith and Ja’Marr Chase, among others. It’ll be Gardner’s job to help shut them down while elevating the Colts’ secondary.3. DT DeForest BucknerBuckner has been noncommittal this offseason about when he will return from the neck surgery he underwent at the end of last season. That’s troubling for a Colts defense that needs Buckner to return to his All-Pro form. If he isn’t that player, or close to it, that means he won’t command the double-teams that are critical to creating one-on-one opportunities for defensive linemates. Sure, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is known for being creative with his schemes and generating pressure, but no amount of ingenuity can replace what Buckner brings to the table when he’s fully healthy.4. DT Grover StewartStewart has long been one of the unsung heroes of the Colts’ defense. The jovial big man, who is often cracking jokes in the locker room, is a menace on the field and still one of the best run stoppers in the NFL. His ability to clog the middle and stuff runs grants the rest of the defensive line the opportunity to get after the quarterback when foes are forced into passing situations. A healthy and productive Stewart will also go a long way in helping Indy’s new starting linebacker tandem behind him, which will most likely be headlined by rookie second-round pick CJ Allen.5. FS Cam BynumBynum, who inked a four-year, $60 million deal to join the Colts last year, delivered in his first season in Indy. He registered a career-high four interceptions and eight passes defensed in 2025. Bynum may get overlooked when discussing Indy’s defense since his teammates, Latu and Gardner, play more premium positions. But with Indy poised to potentially start rookie third-round pick A.J. Haulcy at strong safety, Bynum’s experience should help shore up Indy’s last line of defense. Bynum is also the only safety on the Colts’ roster who’s been a full-time starter in the past two years.