Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts didn't offer many specific details when they placed offensive tackle Braden Smith on the reserve/non-football illness list near the end of last season because of a "personal matter," but he opened up about the reality he was facing in an interview with Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star that was published Tuesday.

Smith was diagnosed with religious scrupulosity, which is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and underwent a variety of treatments including therapy, time in a mental health facility and a trip to Mexico to take a psychedelic drug he credits with helping him get better.

"I was physically present, but I was nowhere to be found," Smith said while explaining his compulsions grew worse as games approached and during road trips. "I did not care about playing football. I didn't care about hanging out with my family, with my wife, with my newborn son. … I (felt like I) was a month away from putting a bullet through my brain."

Erickson explained that Smith's compulsions were internal compared to common OCD signs such as repetitive hand washing.

"I'll latch onto certain pieces of the Bible, certain Scriptures, talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit," Smith said. "I'd be like, 'Oh, if I think something bad about God, I’m going to hell.' Selling my soul to the devil-type stuff, that was a prominent theme."

The offensive tackle also explained, "There's the actual, real, true, living God. And then there's my OCD god, and the OCD god is this condemning (deity). It's like every wrong move you make, it's like smacking the ruler against his hand. 'Another bad move like that and you're out of here.'"

Stephen Holder of ESPN cited the International OCD Foundation and noted "religious scrupulosity differs from the healthy practice of religion because it is driven by anxiety over engaging in actions that might offend God or be seen as blasphemous. This creates obsessive behavior—including constant prayer or repeated repentance–that can begin to dominate a person's daily life."

In the interview with Erickson, Smith explained therapy and checking into an intensive mental health facility only provided temporary relief. He stayed at the facility for 48 days but did not make the strides he and his family hoped.

Instead, he traveled to Mexico in January for a five-day stay to take Ibogaine, which is illegal in the United States. Erickson noted one study from Stanford University that was published in Nature Medicine revealed the psychoactive alkaloid compound derived from the iboga plant helped decrease PTSD, anxiety and depression.

He spent the first day in a sweat lodge before the second day, which was "ibogaine day." He received four doses over intervals that lasted from 30 to 45 minutes all while he received a magnesium drip to regulate his heart as he was hooked up to an EKG.

Smith called the third day a "gray day" because of the hopelessness he felt, but the fourth day saw him take a synthetic version of 5-MeO-DMT, which Erickson noted is "another naturally occurring psychedelic that is produced in plants and the venom of certain toads."

The offensive tackle said the healing effects of the five-day trip to Mexico lasted and helped him feel more in control. He also started an intensive, OCD-specific therapy upon returning to the United States.

"I still have OCD, but it doesn't have a hold over me," Smith said. "It doesn't dictate my life."

Prior to the trip to Mexico and the intensive therapy, Smith tested in the severe range at 28 of 40 on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. However, he tested in the mild range at 12 of 40 following the treatment.

He is now focusing on returning to the field again after the Colts asked him to restructure his contract from $16.75 million in salary to $8 million with the opportunity to add an additional $11 million via incentives.

It lowered the team's cap figure, although the Colts could have created larger savings if they released him. They also didn't have to pay him on the non-football injury list but still chose to while helping him.

"I wasn't here last year. I was physically here, but I wasn't," Smith said. "I want to be me again here, and I want the people around me to experience that, because I do feel like I do have something to offer the people around me."

Indianapolis drafted Smith out of Auburn in the second round in 2018, and he has since appeared in 94 games with 92 starts. He started all 12 games he played in 2024 and will suit up for his eighth season in 2025.

If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 for 24/7 access to a trained counselor. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741. For more information about ongoing support and mental health resources, contact the HelpLine at the National Alliance on Mental Illness by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or emailing info@nami.org.

After signing with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, there's a chance that quarterback Daniel Jones will have the chance to get his career back on track.

While Jones is expected to be the backup to 2023 No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson, an NFL executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando that the 27-year-old could revive his career the same way Sam Darnold did during the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

"Jones has a chance to be the next Sam Darnold," the exec said, "but I wonder if that would be good for everyone there. Does the GM (Chris Ballard) need Richardson to win the job? The watch is on for Daniel."

Richardson has struggled over his first two years in the NFL, dealing with injuries and appearing to need more time to develop. In 11 starts in 2024, he completed a pedestrian 47.7 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Known for his dual-threat ability, he added 499 rushing yards and six more scores.

Jones was released by the New York Giants after his disappointing showing during the 2024 season, and he signed with the Vikings to spend the latter half of the year as Darnold's backup.

Perhaps he picked up some things from Darnold on how to navigate as a veteran quarterback playing behind a young signal-caller, as Darnold was expected to be the backup to 2024 No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy before a torn meniscus cost him his rookie season.

The newfound opportunity worked wonders for Darnold, as he was selected to his first career Pro Bowl after throwing for career highs of 4,319 and 35 touchdowns. The Colts would certainly be happy if Jones could produce at a similar rate in 2025, but that would likely lead to questions about Richardson's future with the team.

One offensive coach from an NFL team believes quarterback Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts are a "perfect match" after agreeing to a one-year contract.

"They do not have to change game plans for him because that guy (Jones) can do some of what (Anthony) Richardson can do running around," the coach said to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "That is how Jones had his best year in New York anyway."

They added that "this will be the freest Daniel Jones that we have ever seen" because he'll no longer face the regular scrutiny he did while playing in New York.

With Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold enjoying revivals in recent years, people have convinced themselves more that QBs discarded by their previous teams could be a reclamation project.

In the case of Jones, there's some proof of concept, too, because he was a Pro Bowler who threw for 3,205 yards and ran for another 708 yards in 2022.

The 27-year-old might get a shot at some point in Indianapolis to prove he's a starting-caliber quarterback given what appears to be Anthony Richardson's shaky footing.

General manager Chris Ballard told reporters in February ahead of free agency the Colts "want to create real competition" at quarterback.

"I think it's good for the team," he said. "I think it's good for Anthony. We drafted Anthony high knowing it was going to take some time and we knew there's going to be some hiccups along the way. I know we all want a finished product right now. I do. You do. Fans do. We all do. But I think as he continues to progress in his young career, us adding competition, I think, will help up everybody's game."

Ballard backed up those words by signing Jones.

While some have wondered whether Richardson might be dangled in trades, his agent said the 2023 first-round pick is firmly committed to the Colts.

Considering Indy benched the struggling young signal-caller midway through the 2024 campaign, Jones seemingly still has a pathway to QB1 status if he doesn't win the job outright in training camp.

That's a better outlook than he would've had with a lot of other teams around the NFL.

Anthony Richardson is hoping to finally have a breakout season in his third NFL campaign, and the Indianapolis Colts quarterback will spend the offseason working with someone with a track record of success to achieve his goals.

Per ESPN's Stephen Holder, Richardson will train with Chris Hess, the same biometric expert that Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen worked with early in his career. Allen called Hess "the most influential person in my mechanical career" during an NFL Films segment (h/t Holder). He also credited Hess for helping him improve his completion rate from 52.8 percent as a rookie to 69.2 percent in his third season.

Allen had a somewhat slow start to his career, throwing for 2,074 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a rookie before collecting 3,089 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his second season.

He turned into a star by his third campaign, notching 4,544 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Richardson's rookie year was cut short due to injuries and he struggled to find his groove in Year 2. In 11 games in 2024, he threw for 1,814 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 61.6 quarterback rating.

According to Holder, Richardson will work with Hess on "refining his throws on short and intermediate routes and throwing with more touch." He'll also focus on his overall technique, including his footwork. Richardson had a 47.7 completion percentage and took 14 sacks this season.

The Colts had high expectations for Richardson when they took him fourth overall in 2023, but he's yet to live up to those expectations. The young quarterback will head into the offseason hoping to make a similar jump to Allen after he trained with Hess.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly hiring former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as their new defensive coordinator, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Anarumo was one of the top defensive coordinators on the market after the Colts parted ways with Gus Bradley.

Both the Bengals and the Colts parted ways with their defensive coordinators at the conclusion of their seasons, Anarumo, after spending six years in Cincinnati, joined the team in 2019.

Anarumo was hired alongside head coach Zac Taylor who helped lead the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI where they lost 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams.

Following their Super Bowl appearance, the Bengals' defense fell off over the past few years as they lost notable veterans (like Jessie Bates III), coming in eighth-worst in the league in total yards allowed per game with 348.3 yards and seventh in total points with 25.5.

The Colts were fourth-worst in the league in total yards allowed per game with 361.2 yards behind Bradley.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen emphasized the team's culture heading into the offseason, expressing confidence that he has the right players to build with but acknowledging the need to secure more wins—hopefully with the help of Anarumo.

"I think, seriously–culture to me, is about winning," Steichen told reporters. "It's about winning, and we didn't win enough this year, but we've got the right guys. I always say that because we've got good character guys in there. We talk about accountability. I'm a firm believer in accountability, and when–as rare as things come up, they are addressed immediately. I don't let those things slide under the rug. They are addressed whether it's with a fine or bringing them in my office and talking through those things, because accountability is a big part of this league. We've got to hold everyone to a high standard, and it is at a high standard."

In addition, the Colts will hope that the change of scenery will inspire Anarumo to rekindle his old ways and help boost the program that finished 8-9 this season.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is making progress physically from the back spasms that kept him out for the final two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.

"Furthermore, according to multiple sources, Richardson has already resumed throwing in the two weeks since the season ended," Holder reported Monday. "He's also back performing football movements. His offseason training isn't underway in earnest just yet—that starts in the next couple of weeks—but no lingering issues with the back are anticipated."

injuries have been an unfortunate trend for Richardson to start his career. During his rookie season in 2023, Richardson played just four games because of a concussion and a season-ending AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.

In 2024, Richardson missed a pair of games due to an oblique injury before the back spasms sidelined him again.

Richardson also got benched for veteran Joe Flacco amid his on-field struggles. He had thrown for 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes through his first six starts.

Indianapolis demoted Richardson to the bench after a loss to the Houston Texans and he stayed there for two games, returning to the starting lineup against the New York Jets after Flacco didn't perform well in his place.

Colts coach Shane Steichen named Richardson Indianapolis' starter for the rest of the season after Flacco threw three interceptions against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10.

Richardson's performance didn't improve much in the second half. He finished with 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions through the air, and his 47.4 QBR ranked 27th among qualified quarterbacks, per ESPN.com.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported in December the 22-year-old still "is viewed as the presumptive starter for next season."

The Indianapolis Colts announced Wednesday that they will be the host team next season for the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Berlin, Germany.

That game will be part of the NFL's International Series, which also includes three games to be played in London, England, with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars serving as the host teams.

While next season will mark the NFL's first regular-season game in Berlin, it will also represent the fourth consecutive season that a game has been held in Germany.

It started with a game in Munich in 2022, followed by two games in Frankfurt in 2023 and one game in Munich in 2024.

Although next season will mark the NFL's regular-season debut in Berlin, Germany's capital city does have some previous history with the league.

From 1990 through 1994, Berlin hosted an annual NFL preseason game with each matchup being held at the Olympiastadion. The league previously announced that the Olympiastadion will host next season's Berlin game as well.

In addition to playing in exhibition games in Mexico, Japan and Canada, the Colts have twice appeared in regular-season games abroad.

The first occasion came in 2016 when they fell 30-27 to the Jaguars in a contest at London's Wembley Stadium.

More recently, the Colts and New England Patriots squared off in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2023. The Patriots served as the host team, but Indy prevailed 10-6 on the strength of a rushing touchdown by star running back Jonathan Taylor.

The Colts' opponent for their upcoming Berlin game will be announced some time this offseason, as will those of the Browns, Jets and Jags in London.

Indianapolis has not reached the playoffs since going 11-5 in 2020, and it has not won a playoff game since the 2018 season.

The Colts have hovered around the .500 mark in three of the past four seasons, going 9-8 in 2021 and 2023, and 8-9 this season.

While they have some quality pieces with Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. standing out in particular, they have to figure out their quarterback situation in order to reach the next level.

Anthony Richardson has not established himself as the clear franchise guy since the Colts took him fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft, and his future with the organization is very much in question.

However, for now, Richardson is likely the favorite to be under center for the Colts when they take the field in Berlin next season.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard took responsibility for the team's shortcomings in 2024 while addressing the media Friday.

According to Zak Keefer of The Athletic, Ballard said: "I didn't create enough competition on the roster ... that directly falls on my shoulders. I was wrong. I was wrong."

The Colts finished 8-9 this season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year, but team owner Jim Irsay released a statement at the conclusion of the regular season, noting that he would retain Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen for the 2025 campaign.

Indianapolis was among the least-active teams in free agency this past offseason, as Ballard largely focused on keeping the core together rather than adding from the outside.

Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive tackle Grover Stewart, defensive end Tyquan Lewis and safety Julian Blackmon all signed deals to remain in Indy.

That left veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis as the most notable signings from outside the organization.

The approach did not pay dividends, as the Colts went from a 9-8 non-playoff team in 2023 to an 8-9 non-playoff team this season.

After watching his team take a step back, Ballard told reporters that he "came to some real truths" despite being a stubborn person, adding: "You gotta look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself what's really going on."

Ballard also told reporters that he understands why some fans may be frustrated about Irsay's decision to keep him in the GM role, saying: "I don't blame [the fans] for being pissed and questioning ... they should. ... I need to earn their trust back. ... Anything I say, until we win—really win, and I wanna win big here—until we do that, I get it. I understand [the frustration]."

Ballard, 55, has been the Colts' general manager since 2017, which was when he took over for Ryan Grigson.

The Colts have made just two playoff appearances in eight seasons under Ballard, winning only one playoff game during that time.

Indianapolis had its franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck when Ballard took over, but Luck shockingly retired just before the 2019 season, and the Colts have not had a clear answer at quarterback ever since then.

In fact, the Colts have had a different leading passer in each of the past seven seasons, going from Luck to Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan to Gardner Minshew to Anthony Richardson.

The Colts took Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and he has yet to prove that he is undoubtedly the long-term answer at quarterback.

Richardson is 8-7 as a starter over two seasons, completing just 50.6 percent of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Solidifying the quarterback position is perhaps the biggest key to the Colts' success in 2025 and beyond, but if Richardson or someone else is unable to do so, it could cost both Ballard and Steichen their jobs.