Indianapolis, IN
Colts RT Braden Smith gave ‘everything my body could,’ didn’t surrender a sack all year.
Colts’ Ballard encouraged where team is heading
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard holds postseason press conference.
Clark Wade/IndyStar
INDIANAPOLIS — Braden Smith tried to push through the pain, finish out the season and provide the final shove that got the Colts into the postseason.
Ultimately, his left knee would not let him.
Forty-five snaps into the season finale against the Texans, the knee got to the point of no return again, forcing Smith to watch from the sideline as the Colts’ last chance at an improbable playoff berth came up short.
“I gave everything my body could give,” Smith said. “I’ll always wish I could have done more.”
Smith will spend his offseason trying to make sure he does everything possible to return next season with the injury problems of 2023 in the rearview mirror.
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The big right tackle has never been through a season like 2023, even though he missed five games with a foot injury in 2021. When Smith got hurt two years ago, he rehabilitated that injury, rejoined the lineup and stayed; this time, Smith missed four games due to hip and wrist injuries, then injured the knee two games later, forcing him back to the bench.
And while Smith declined to offer any details on his injury or his plan for the offseason, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said at the end of the season it was “50-50” on whether Smith would need offseason surgery to repair the knee.
“I’m going to go into this offseason and get my body healthy, do everything I can,” Smith said. “My hope is next year I come back full strength, as healthy as I can be.”
A healthy Smith remains one of the best right tackles in the NFL.
Smith did not give up a sack in 308 pass-blocking snaps, according to Sports Info Solutions, and the Colts averaged 4.63 yards per carry and 138 rushing yards per game in the nine games Smith played extensive snaps — he played just three against Tennessee before injuring his knee — and just 3.87 and 102.1 in the other eight games.
“Braden is important to our team,” Ballard said. “When he doesn’t play, it hurts us.”
Rookie swing tackle Blake Freeland played almost every snap when Smith was injured this season.
From a big-picture standpoint, the Colts did a good job of minimizing the impact of the drop-off from one player to another, but Freeland gave up six sacks in 394 snaps, in addition to struggling at times in the running game.
Smith, who was incredibly strong even during his college career at Auburn, has always been a mauler with plenty of power, so physically imposing that the rest of the Indianapolis offensive line calls him the “Polar Bear.”
Freeland has some work to do in that department.
“He got put in the fire,” Ballard said. “He’s got to get stronger. He knows it.”
The Colts would prefer to have Smith on the field.
Especially against the NFL’s pass rushers, when the difference between Smith and Freeland was easiest to see.
With Smith out against Cleveland, the Browns lined up Myles Garrett across from Freeland in a critical situation with the Colts offense backed up against its own end zone, and Garrett responded with a strip-sack for a Browns touchdown. Two months later, an injured Smith held Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby to zero sacks and just one quarterback hit in a game Indianapolis had to have to stay in the playoff mix.
“To have him out there. … battling against one of the best players in the league, and I would say holding his own, he played really, really good football after a little bit of time off,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “It was huge for us, just as an offense, going out and executing, but I think it was huge for his teammates, just knowing that he’s pushing through a ton of difficult stuff, and that goes a long way in the huddle.”
Smith, who will be 28 next season, has two years remaining on the four-year, $72.4 million extension he signed in 2021, and he’ll carry a cap figure of $16.68 million next season, then $19.75 million in 2025.
The numbers are big, to be sure, but Indianapolis currently has a starting quarterback on a rookie deal in Anthony Richardson, and emerging left tackle Bernhard Raimann also has two years left on his rookie contract, leaving the Colts with plenty of cap space.
Most importantly, Smith is still one of the NFL’s best right tackles when he’s healthy, and he believes he’ll be able to return to the Colts at full strength for the start of next season.
“I’ve got a good plan for that,” Smith said. “I feel really confident in it, I’m excited about the future.”
Forced to the sideline by injury, Smith was frustrated, relying on his faith for perspective while he tried to get back in the lineup.
“That’s kind of the beauty of growing as a human being: You’re never done evolving, growing as a person,” Smith said. “I’ve found out a lot more about myself this year, really having to fight through adversity for myself personally. I definitely feel like I did some growing this year. I feel like that will pay dividends going into the future.”
The Colts can already imagine what those dividends might mean for the offense.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A man is dead, and a suspect has been detained following a shooting on Indy’s far east side.
The shooting took place around midnight Sunday near the intersection of East 10th Street and Shadeland Avenue.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene and found a man with multiple gunshot wounds. Medics rushed him to a hospital, where he later died.
Investigators say they believe it started as an altercation in the parking lot of a business before the shooting happened.
The suspect stayed on the scene and was later detained. IMPD says they located a gun in the suspect’s car.
IMPD Capt. John Arvin told media at the scene, “It’s Mother’s Day. Here’s the tragedy. A mother is going to get a knock on the door this morning that her son is dead. For the rest of her life, every Mother’s Day, she’s going to remember that’s the day my son died.
“That just makes this a senseless tragedy. We have no idea what the fight was over, what led to the shooting, but whatever it was, does it lead to someone’s mother knowing for the rest of her life my son died on mothers day. That’s just tragedy.”
Police say many of the surrounding businesses have security cameras, and they will contact them today to review the footage as part of the investigation.
IndyCar race results from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
IndyCar Series drivers are on the grid in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is set to host a day of open wheel racing.
View Indianapolis race results for the IndyCar Series below.
Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward set the front row. 85 laps laps of stock car racing are up next…
Race Report
Green flag, Alex Palou is clear out of turn one. Pato O’Ward is turned! Scott Dixon and others are collected. The caution is out.
Penalty: Felix Rosenqvist will serve a drive thru penalty for contact in turn one.
Green, Palou leads Malukas and Kirkwood into turn one.
Lap 7, Kirkwood dives inside of Malukas into turn one. Kirkwood takes 2nd away.
Lap 21, Alexander Rossi is stalled and the caution is out. Multiple pit strategies are now in play.
Palou heads for the pit lane. Power is handed the lead as Palou restarts 19th.
Green, Power leads Malukas and Lundgaard. Felix Rosenqvist jumps over the top of Kyffin Simpson, caution.
Power pits from the lead with others. Malukas is handed the lead.
Green, Malukas leads Lunagaard into turn one.
Lap 48, Malukas and others head for the pit lane. Lundgaard pits the following lap. Malukas cycles out ahead. Malukas is saving fuel.
Lap 52, Power leads Malukas by 8 seconds.
Lap 63, Alex Palou pits for the final time from 5th.
20 to go, Lundgaard and many of the leaders dive for the pit lane. A lap later, Malukas heads for the pit lane.
Malukas cycles out ahead of Lundgaard. Lundgaard trails by 1.3 seconds.
18 to go, Lundgaard is all over the gearbox of the leader! Malukas blocks the inside into turn one. He misses a shift and Lundgaard pulls on the outside. They fight for space into turn four, Lundgaard to the lead!
8 to go, Lundgaard leads Malukas by 3 seconds. He’s driving away.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race Results
May 9, 2026
IndyCar Series
Pos | Driver
1. Christian Lundgaard
2. David Malukas
3. Graham Rahal
4. Josef Newgarden
5. Alex Palou
6. Scott Dixon
7. Louis Foster
8. Dennis Hauger
9. Kyle Kirkwood
10. Nolan Siegel
11. Marcus Armstrong
12. Kyffin Simpson
13. Will Power
14. Santino Ferrucci
15. Rinus VeeKay
16. Scott McLaughlin
17. Sting Ray Robb
18. Pato O’Ward
19. Caio Collet
20. Mick Schumacher
21. Romain Grosjean
22. Marcus Ericsson
23. Felix Rosenqvist
24. Christian Rasmussen
25. Alexander Rossi
IndyCar Series
Point Standings
Pending
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Video Highlights
Pending
Links
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
TODAY
Early clouds give way to gradual clearing, and the afternoon turns much nicer than the damp start might suggest. Highs reach the mid 70s, with a west-southwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Once we get past the morning gray, this looks like a very usable day for outdoor plans, just a bit breezy at times.
TONIGHT
Clouds increase again overnight, and scattered showers with a few thunderstorms may arrive late, mainly after 3 a.m. Lows settle in the mid 50s, with a light breeze becoming northerly late. Most of the evening stays quiet, but by early Sunday morning a few neighborhoods could hear some rain on the roof.
MOTHER’S DAY
Cooler than Saturday, with a mix of clouds and some breaks of sun along with the chance for an isolated shower. Highs top out in the mid 60s, and a north breeze around 5 to 10 mph adds a slightly cooler feel. It is not a washout, but it is also not as nice as Saturday afternoon, especially south of Indianapolis where a stray shower may hang on longer.
TOMORROW NIGHT
Partly cloudy and cooler, with lows in the mid 40s and a north northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph. The air dries out nicely, and this looks like a quiet, comfortable night across central Indiana.
MONDAY
Bright and seasonably cool with sunshine taking over. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light north wind around 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. This looks like one of the cleaner forecast days of the stretch, great for errands, practices, or getting outside without weather trouble.
MONDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear and chilly again, with lows in the low to mid 40s and light wind fading late. Quiet weather continues, and there are no meaningful travel concerns overnight.
TUESDAY
Another decent start, then clouds begin to increase later with a chance for showers and thunderstorms after mid afternoon. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light south southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the day still looks usable, but the late afternoon and evening carry the next better rain signal.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Showers and thunderstorms become more likely for part of the night before activity starts to ease later on. Lows hold in the low to mid 50s, with a south-southwest wind around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. It does not look like a high-end severe setup right now, but it is enough of a signal to keep an eye on late evening plans.
WEDNESDAY
A leftover shower is possible early, then the trend turns drier with more sun returning through the day. Highs recover into the upper 60s, and a northwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will make it feel a little brisker at times. The day improves as it goes, and by afternoon it should look much better than the early morning may suggest.
7 DAY FORECAST
After a milder Saturday and a small late Saturday night into Sunday shower window, the broader pattern settles down for Sunday night and Monday with quieter, cooler weather in place. The next more meaningful chance for rain arrives Tuesday into Tuesday night as another system approaches, then drier conditions return Wednesday as that system pulls away. Temperatures run in the 70s Saturday, slip back into the 60s Sunday through Tuesday, then edge a little milder again by midweek. Confidence is best in the quiet Sunday night through Monday stretch, while the exact timing of Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night rain could still wobble a bit.
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