The Indianapolis Colts won't have to face one explosive Jacksonville Jaguars playmaker on Sunday afternoon.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts (8-4) have been in a rough patch lately, dropping three of their last four games. Now, they travel to a place they haven't won in a decade as they go on the road to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) with the AFC South lead on the line.
However, the Colts may be getting a bit of a break on the injury front.
Jaguars wide receiver/star punt returner Parker Washington is not expected to play through his hip injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, missing his first game of the season.
"Jaguars WR Parker Washington (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday and won’t play, source said. He’ll be inactive," Rapoport posted on X.
Washington suffered the injury last week in the Jaguars' win over the Tennessee Titans. He did not practice on Wednesday, but was able to log limited sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Through 12 games this season (six starts), Washington has caught 36-of-63 targets for 447 yards (12.4 avg.) and three touchdowns. He also has 19 punt returns for a 17.0 avg. and two touchdowns.
He is third in the NFL in punt return average and is tied on top with two others with his two scores. Pro Football Focus has him graded as the second-best punt returner in the NFL with a grade of 91.5.
Washington isn't just a big-play threat in the return game, though. His 12.9-yard average depth of pass target is tied for 10th in the NFL, according to PFF.
Per Mia O'Brien of ESPN Radio and the Locked On Jaguars Squad podcast, "Liam Coen says if Parker Washington can't go vs Colts (which Coen did note earlier: it was encouraging to see him back at practice Thursday), it'll be Dyami Brown-Tim Patrick-Austin Trammell call-up from PS to fill the void -- with Dyami and Tim also supplementing at X/Z."
The Colts' pass defense has been fine overall in 2025, resembling an effective bend-but-don't-break style, although that is certainly not their goal. They rank 27th overall in pass defense (246.3 YPG), but are sixth in sacks (35) and tied for fourth in interceptions (12), while also holding the ninth spot in red zone scoring (54.4%).
The Colts will be without top cornerback Sauce Gardner as he recovers from a calf injury, but the defense will otherwise be at full strength in the secondary, with cornerbacks Charvarius Ward Sr. and Kenny Moore II starting, and Mekhi Blackmon and Jaylon Jones also rotating snaps beside them.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.