One of the major questions going into Indianapolis Colts training camp surrounded the linebacker position and who would line up next to Zaire Franklin to begin the season.
Second-year man Jaylon Carlies had been the incumbent, but he missed a major chunk of the summer with an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve to begin the season. As a result, the position became anyone’s for the taking.
When Indianapolis ultimately reduced their roster down to the maximum 53 players, they selected four linebackers: Franklin, Joe Bachie, Cameron McGrone and Segun Olubi (with Carlies on injured reserve, targeting a Week 5 return). According to the latest version of that depth chart, Franklin will line up alongside Bachie when the Dolphins visit Lucas Oil Stadium.
Once Carlies went down, Bachie quickly became the most likely candidate to be paired with Franklin due to his history with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Bachie, 27, only has 48 career tackles to his name, but Anarumo has heralded him for how helpful he’s been in aiding his teammates adjust to his new defensive scheme.
“He can help everybody,” Anarumo said of Bachie. “He settles everybody down if there’s a particular check. He knows it, he’s been here, he’s done that…when he’s out there things are settled down.”
Clearly, the Colts are banking on Bachie’s experience to relieve any first game jitters which may arise.