The 2026 NFL season is here. The Baltimore Ravens will take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 13 at 1 p.m. ET, marking the kickoff to the Jesse Minter era in Charm City. The anticipation is overflowing.
There’s so much that we’ve yet to learn about Minter and company. One thing’s for sure, though: we know this roster is littered with talent. Baltimore seriously has an embarrassment of riches all over the field.
When it comes to these five Ravens, they seem destined to start the season off hot in Indianapolis.
5 Baltimore Ravens players the Indianapolis Colts should be scared of in Week 1
Derrick Henry
This one’s obvious. It’s always a safe bet to assume Derrick Henry will take over a game, and Week 1 feels like a matchup he’ll take control of. While there are a lot of kinks to iron out within Declan Doyle’s new offense, Henry is a player he should lean on to find success early and often.
While questions about Henry’s age and potential regression continue to surface, let’s be real: how many times are we going question this man? His preparation ahead of and throughout each NFL season is utterly ridiculous. There’s really no one who does what he does.
And last year, Henry ran behind one of the worst guard duos the NFL has ever seen. I don’t think that’s hyperbole. Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees were dreadful, and ranked as the 55th and 59th best guards in the league in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
Now, Henry has John Simpson and Vega Ioane blocking in front of him. They may not be superb out of the gate, but all Henry truly needs is average play. They should be able to provide that.
The Colts' interior defensive line really isn’t striking fear into anyone anymore either. Grover Stewart has significantly regressed (57.3 PFF grade in 2025), and DeForest Buckner has struggled against the run (56.3 run defense grade). Look for Henry to have a big game.
Trey Hendrickson
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is expected to play on Sunday. It’ll be his first game back from a torn Achilles he suffered nine months ago. That’s a notably quick recovery, and while he appears 100% healthy, he may not be too evasive in the pocket.
Enter Trey Hendrickson.
Baltimore’s big-ticket free-agent signing will be looking to make a quick name for himself. The team was lacking a premier sack artist, and that’s exactly why they signed Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract.
Hendrickson has sacked Jones twice in his NFL career—Sunday marks a golden opportunity to up that total to three. Along with Jones getting back into the swing of NFL action for the first time since December, Jesse Minter’s defense should look relentless. He knows how to bring pressure, ranking in the top-10 in sacks in each of the last two years coaching the Los Angeles Chargers.
Hendrickson should be the centerpiece of that pressure.
Nate Wiggins
Nate Wiggins comes into the 2026 season eager to prove he’s not just Baltimore’s CB1, but an All-Pro corner. In Week 1, he’s set to duke it out with Alec Pierce on the boundary.
Alec Pierce is coming off a 1,000-yard campaign, which earned him a shiny four-year, $114 million contract. He’ll have a chip on his shoulder looking to prove he was worth that lucrative deal. However, he’s also coming off an ankle injury.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen has said Pierce “should be good to go,” but if it’s still hampering him in any capacity, Wiggins is sure to take advantage.
Despite his slender frame, Wiggins is a physical corner who thrives in press coverage. He could make Pierce’s life a nightmare on Sunday, stalling him as he tries to hit his signature go routes.
Malaki Starks
Speaking of Pierce, another way to eliminate him from the game plan is through Malaki Starks. Starks is Baltimore’s deep safety, playing center field to help limit the big plays. His rookie campaign wasn’t anything crazy, but 2026 offers an immediate shot to take that next step.
As I mentioned above, Pierce loves to go deep. Last year, he averaged a staggering 21.3 yards per catch. That wasn’t a fluke either, as in 2024, that number sat at 22.3 yards per catch. That’s his speciality. Starks needs to make it a non-factor.
Starks hauled in two interceptions last year, both of which came when he fired over from center field and stole a deep ball. With the way their passing offense is run, the stage is set for him to do that again against Indianapolis.
It also helps knowing he has what should be an effective pass rush, making the opposing quarterback feel uncomfortable. Arrant throws are bound to happen, and they could be there for Starks’ taking.
Calais Campbell
40-year-old Calais Campbell is back for his 19th NFL season, and he has yet to slow down. Despite his age, he’ll play a big role on Baltimore’s defensive front, especially if Nnamdi Madubuike doesn’t suit up. At this point, it doesn’t sound like he will.
The task at hand for Campbell? Stop Jonathan Taylor. While Pierce is an explosive weapon, Taylor is the real back-breaking piece occupying the Colts' offense. He’s one of the most dangerous running backs in the league.
Luckily, it seems Campbell has what it takes to stop Taylor. Across his career, he’s fared pretty well against the three-time Pro Bowler.
If you exclude a 2025 Week 6 matchup where Taylor trampled the Arizona Cardinals' eighth-worst run defense for 127 yards, Campbell has occupied defensive fronts that have mostly shut Taylor down.
In the three other matchups, Taylor wasn’t able to tally more than 53 rushing yards when Campbell was on the field. Alongside strong run-stoppers in Travis Jones and John Jenkins, that’s a trend that could continue.
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