Without Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies on the practice field, the Indianapolis Colts are getting an early look at the state of their linebacker depth.

Franklin underwent offseason ankle surgery, and Carlies had shoulder surgery. As both players recover, they have not participated in the practices during OTAs or minicamp.

This means that those on the middle to back end of the Colts‘ linebacker depth chart, like Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone, Joe Bachie, and others, have been thrust into larger roles during offseason programs.

Heading into the 2025 season, there is some uncertainty surrounding the Colts’ linebacker position. For one, until on the football field in the regular season, there is always the unknown around how a unit will acclimate to a new scheme.

But in addition to that, this is also a unit that is short on experience. Outside of Franklin, Carlies and his 242 career defensive snaps are the next most on the team at the linebacker position. Bachie has played 238 and Olubi 136.

Taking the playbook and implementing what’s discussed in the meeting rooms on the practice field is obviously a big part of navigating the learning curve that comes with a new scheme. It’s one thing to know the plays and what to do on paper; it’s another to react and execute the play call properly when everything is moving very quickly and the offense is throwing different looks at you.

Franklin and Carlies haven’t been able to take part in that aspect this offseason as they recover from their injuries, so to help them hit the ground running when they return, the two have been taking extra meetings with linebackers coach James Bettcher.

“They’ve been doing as much as they can within the rules in terms of their injuries and stuff. But extra meetings with coach Bettcher and just staying ahead of it,” Lou Anarumo said on Wednesday. “Ultimately, they play linebacker, they gotta get down in there and get used to playing football at some point. Hopefully that’s sooner than later. But mentally they’re trying to stay with it as best they can.”

Throughout the offseason, whether it be free agency or in the NFL draft, many were waiting for GM Chris Ballard to make a linebacker addition, but that never quite came. From the sounds of it, Hunter Wohler will fill more of a hybrid linebacker-safety role, rather than being a true linebacker.

Ballard has remained bullish when discussing this position group, and his actions this offseason reflect that. But the big unknown at linebacker–the depth–is already being tested.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL minicamps: Colts getting early look at state of linebacker depth