Colts Rule Out Safety A.J. Haulcy vs. Cowboys

Indianapolis downgraded its rookie strong safety to out on Saturday after an ankle injury suffered in Friday's practice.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a Colts defender in blue and white driving toward a Cowboys player in navy and silver under stadium floodlights. — The Indianapolis Colts ruled out rookie strong safety A.J. Haulcy for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys after he suffered an ankle injury in practice Friday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Colts ruled out rookie strong safety A.J. Haulcy for Sunday's game against the Cowboys after he suffered an ankle injury in Friday's practice. Hunter Wohler is expected to start in his place.

Why it matters

Haulcy has started eight games and played 396 snaps this season, so his absence removes a significant part of the Colts' secondary rotation. The move also brings more responsibility to Wohler, who has appeared in 83 defensive snaps this year.

Haulcy has 39 tackles and two pass breakups this season, and opposing quarterbacks posted a 114.4 rating when he was the nearest coverage defender. Wohler has 16 tackles and 83 defensive snaps, with three snaps as nearest coverage defender this season.

The players

A.J. Haulcy

A third-round pick out of LSU, Haulcy is a rookie strong safety for the Indianapolis Colts.

Hunter Wohler

Wohler is a Colts defensive back who is expected to start in place of Haulcy.

The details

The Colts initially listed Haulcy as questionable before downgrading him to out on Saturday afternoon. Trey Washington was elevated from the practice squad, and Johnathan Edwards was elevated for the second consecutive week.

Friday: Haulcy suffers an ankle injury in practice.
Saturday afternoon: The Colts downgrade Haulcy to out.
Sunday: The Colts face the Cowboys without Haulcy.

Season Trajectory

Haulcy's absence comes as the Colts rely on rotating young defensive backs through the season, a pattern that tests depth in the secondary. Playoff positioning will depend on whether the replacements can hold up against a Cowboys offense.

Fantasy managers relying on Haulcy should expect Wohler to take on a larger role in run and pass defense on Sunday. The change affects secondary matchups for anyone tracking Colts defensive production.

The takeaway

Injury designations can change within a single day, so fans tracking a specific player should check the team's final status before kickoff. Depth players like Wohler often determine whether a secondary holds up after a starter exits.