Colts RT Braden Smith wants to play football again

Posted by author February 26, 2025 Football

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INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran Colts right tackle Braden Smith wants to return to the football field after missing the final five games of the season due to an undisclosed personal matter.

Smith, who has been the team’s starter on the right side since 2018, is scheduled to count $19.75 million against the salary cap, prompting speculation that Indianapolis might release the former second-round pick in order to achieve savings.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard didn’t offer any more details on Smith’s situation on Tuesday, but he did say that Smith wants to return to the football field.

“What I will tell you is he’s doing really well, and he wants to play football,” Ballard said. “We’ll work through the rest of it.”

When he’s been healthy, Smith is still a good right tackle, but he missed five games in 2024 due to the personal matter and seven games in 2023 due to hip and knee injuries, and he was forced to undergo surgery on the knee after the season in an effort to be healthy enough to play again.

The personal matter has Smith’s full attention now, though he has not disclosed the nature of it.

But the Colts have to weigh questions about Smith’s availability against the presence of 2024 third-rounder Matt Goncalves, who started eight games for Indianapolis at both left and right tackle.

“(Smith’s) dealing with it,” Ballard said. “We’re supporting Braden, think the world of him. He’s been a great player for us. We’ll see going forward.”