INDIANAPOLIS -- Here’s a look at the Indianapolis Colts' positional snaps at linebacker:
D’Qwell Jackson 988 snaps (94.2 percent)
Jerrell Freeman 764 snaps (72.8 percent)
Bjoern Werner 747 snaps (71.2 percent)
Erik Walden 657 snaps (62.6 percent)
Jonathan Newsome 390 snaps (37.2 percent)
Josh McNary 260 snaps (24.8 percent)
Andy Studebaker 185 snaps (17.6 percent)
Shaun Phillips 96 snaps (9.2 percent)
Andrew Jackson 51 snaps (4.9 percent)
Henoc Muamba 20 snaps (1.9 percent)
Victor Butler 19 snaps (1.8 percent)
Cam Johnson 5 snaps (0.5 percent)
The Colts suffered a substantial blow at linebacker when pass-rush specialist Robert Mathis was first suspended for four games for using performance-enhancing drugs and was then lost for the season because of a torn Achilles. Bjoern Werner, who started in place of Mathis, struggled so bad that he was inactive for the AFC Championship Game. Werner was the Colts' first-round pick in 2013.
Rookie Jonathan Newsome made a smooth transition from being a defensive end in college to playing linebacker in coach Chuck Pagano’s 3-4 defense. Newsome led the Colts in sacks with 6.5. Veteran Erik Walden was second in sacks with 6.0.
D’Qwell Jackson, who was arrested for assault earlier this week, brought his tackling ways with him to Indianapolis from Cleveland. He led the Colts in tackles and was on the field for more than 94 percent of the defensive snaps this season.
Jerrell Freeman, the Colts’ leading tackler in 2012 and 2013, only played in 12 games this season because of injuries, including a hamstring injury that impacted his speed for most of the season. He only cracked double digits in tackles once during the regular season after doing it three times in 2013 and eight times in 2012.
