Linebacker Grant Stuard the lead ‘dog’ as Colts tough out win over Dolphins

INDIANAPOLIS — Some days, it’s just going to be tough.

Some days, the 22-year-old quarterback never finds a rhythm with his strong right arm and finishes with 10 completions, 129 yards and zero touchdowns.

Some days, the offense finishes with 284 total yards, one touchdown and three field goals, and converts just 4-of-13 times on third down while averaging a lackluster 4.7 yards per play.

Some days require an aggressive, bare-knuckle, dogged player and mindset.

Meet Grant Stuard.

“Grant’s a dog,’’ defensive end Kwity Paye said. “He’s a junkyard dog.

“He’ll go in there and do whatever it takes for a win, so that’s not surprising at all.’’

That?

That would be 18 tackles which set the tone Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium as the Indianapolis Colts slugged out a 16-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

“That’s crazy,’’ defensive tackle Grover Stewart said. “I appreciate Grant, man, because I know he’s going to give it his all each night.’’

What’s truly crazy is those 18 tackles are tied for the third-most by a Colt since 1984. Pat Angerer had 21 in 2011, Shaq Leonard put up 19 in ’18 and Kavell Conner registered 18 in ’11.

And every crazier? That’s 18 more tackles than Stuard collected in the Colts’ first six games. The special teams standout had been on the field for zero defensive snaps until Sunday.

First, NFL tackle-leader E.J. Speed missed the game with a knee injury. In the second quarter, rookie ‘backer Jaylon Carlies exited the game with an ankle injury.

“I knew I was going to start in base,’’ Stuard said. “With (Carlies) and stuff, I ended up playing some nickel, too.

“My mind was set on playing on defense today, for sure. But not that much. It was crazy.’’

Before Stuard found himself the focus of postgame media interest, his fellow linebacker, Zaire Franklin, held court. His cubicle is adjacent to Stuard’s.

Franklin, by the way, piled up 16 tackles — one shy of matching his career high.

“Oh, man, the LBs was huntin’,’’ Franklin said with a wide grin. “Grant was out there setting the tone. Ironman game today, playing every snap on defense and maintaining his special teams responsibility.

“I feel like Grant’s one of the heart-and-soul people of our team. I was just glad to be able to see him have a day that will be remembered.’’

The game also could be remembered for something of an eyesore.

No one should dismiss the difficulty of winning in today’s NFL. The Colts moved to 4-3 and sit just one game behind AFC South-leading Houston.

But this one was made more difficult than it should have been because of Anthony Richardson and the offense. They never settled into anything resembling a rhythm.

Richardson completed just 10-of-24 passes for 129 yards and lost a fumble on a bobbled shotgun snap. He was much more effective as a runner with 56 yards on 14 carries. Both were team highs and career-bests.

Richardson returned to the lineup after missing two games with an oblique injury. It appeared he carried a bit of rust into the game.

“Not necessarily,’’ Richardson argued, “because I’ve been out there practicing, moving around, going through my routine and stuff.

“So, not really much rust. It was just more so just getting back in the groove, just finding the rhythm.”

Coach Shane Steichen shouldered much of the blame for Richardson’s uneven outing.

“We just didn’t get a rhythm,’’ he said. “I didn’t do a good enough job for all these guys today. It was on me. I didn’t do a good enough job offensively. I’ve got to do better for these guys going forward.”

So does Richardson. In the first half, he was 4-of-13 for 61 yards. It took a 33-yard completion to Michael Pittman Jr. with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter — that set up Matt Gay’s 52-yard field goal as the half expired — to make it appear semi-decent.

At one point, boos echoed throughout Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I don’t really pay attention to it, honestly,’’ Richardson said. “I heard them booing, but I didn’t know who they were booing.

“We know we have to execute.’’

The offense was without starting running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) for a third straight game, but the run game cracked the 100-yard level for the first time this season without him. Richardson, Tyler Goodson (51 yards and one TD on 14 carries), Trey Sermon (36 on eight) and Ashton Dulin (12 on one) combined for 155 yards on 37 carries.

Franklin mentioned the defense understands there will be occasions when it must shoulder a heavier load than normal because of Richardson’s presence. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft started just his ninth career game on Sunday.

“I think that’s something that comes with playing with a young quarterback,’’ Franklin said. “There’s going to be highs and lows. There’s going to be fast starts. There’s going to be slow starts.

“I told the defense we had to keep doing our job. Keep giving them a short field, let him get some confidence, let him get some momentum. And we did that with a couple of big takeaways.’’

Linebacker Segun Olubi caused and covered a fumble by running back Raheem Mostert while Franklin pried the football out of the hands of fullback Alec Ingold, who initially was whacked by Stuard. Rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu and Carlies each had 1 sack.

The Dolphins came in offensively-challenged; they were averaging a league-worst 12 points per game. They were without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), lost backup Tyler Huntley to a shoulder injury in the third quarter and finished with Tim Boyle, who recently was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad.

They leaned on running back De’Von Achane and Mostert while rushing for 188 yards on 40 attempts, but were unable to include playmakers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in the pass game. They combined for 2 catches and 19 yards on just four targets.

The Stuard-Franklin collaboration was inspiring and significant.

Franklin was a 2018 seventh-round pick of the Colts, the 235 ^th player selected. He has set club tackle records in each of the past two seasons, was their Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last year and twice earned lucrative contracts.

Stuard overcame a difficult family upbringing and was the NFL’s Mr. Irrelevant in 2021. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the 259 ^th and final pick in the draft.

The last time he collected 18 tackles in a game?

“UConn, 2019,’’ Stuard said, smiling. “Yeah, I think I had 18 tackles.

“For me, I was confident about some of the calls that Gus (Bradley, defensive coordinator) had up this week. I knew I could play more to my strengths and be aggressive on some calls.

“I just felt really prepared this week.’’

Again, Stuard has never lacked for motivation. His mother is a drug addict and his father has been in and out of prison. He had to grow up in a hurry.

“For me growing up, football is where I felt at home,’’ Stuard said. “I had a lot going on at home, so (with) football, I felt I had an identity there, and I knew that I would be rewarded by giving my best effort.

“Pedal-to-the-metal every play is kind of how I do it. That energy was contagious within the team. Everybody was encouraging me. Towards the end of the game there, it got a little tough.’’

Just the way he likes it.

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter/X at @mchappell51 .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WANE 15.