Not even Simone Biles’ “good luck” charm could save the Colts from disaster in Jonathan Owens’ debut

T he Indianapolis Colts did not enter the 2026 season as one of the biggest names in the AFC South . The year before, they finished with 8 wins and 9 losses, a record that kept them out of the playoffs and left them in third place in the division, behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans .

So the debut against the Baltimore Ravens did not exactly make Indianapolis the clear favorite. It was simply the beginning of a new season and, with it, an opportunity to change the team’s story. Because if there is one thing you expect from a season opener, it is at least a sign that things could get better.

For Jonathan Owens , there was also a personal reason to look forward to Sunday.

Jonathan Owens was making his Colts debut

After two seasons with the Chicago Bears , Owens arrived in Indianapolis to begin a new chapter in the NFL. In 2024, he played in all 17 games, making five starts, recording 46 tackles and one interception , while also contributing to a special teams play that ended in a touchdown after a blocked punt.

His situation changed the following year. He again appeared in all 17 games, but did not start any of them and finished with 19 total tackles . His arrival in Indianapolis, then, represented an opportunity to find an important role again within a secondary that needed depth.

And on a day like this, Simone Biles was not going to miss it.

Simone showed up wearing No. 38

Before kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium, Simone was on one of the areas of the field wearing a look that immediately carried special meaning for Jonathan . She had on a blue dress with the number 38 , the same number her husband was debuting with the Colts, along with white boots and her hair down.

Jonathan, already dressed in his Indianapolis uniform, ran toward her. They shared a kiss, exchanged a few words, and Simone showed him the detail on her dress . Then came their personalized greeting, one of those playful moments that made the scene feel even more like them.

There was another detail that made the image even more special: they were both wearing Colts colors to begin this new chapter. He was about to play his first official game with the team; she was there on the field supporting him and wearing his number like a personal good-luck charm.

Everything seemed ready for a good afternoon.

But the game had other plans .

Baltimore changed the story very quickly

The Colts, in fact, got off to a positive start. On their first offensive drive, Jonathan Taylor scored a one-yard rushing touchdown to put Indianapolis ahead 6-0 , although the team missed the extra point.

The lead did not last long.

Lamar Jackson responded with a five-yard rushing touchdown, and Derrick Henry added another rushing score, this time from four yards out. Baltimore began finding space far too easily, and by the second quarter, the difference was becoming impossible to ignore.

First came Zay Flowers’ touchdown, followed by another big play from Henry, who ran 32 yards into the end zone. The Ravens went up 28-6, while Indianapolis tried to stay in the game with Taylor’s second touchdown .

Before halftime, there was another blow: Tyler Loop converted a 57-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a 31-13 lead heading into the locker room.

The scene with Simone before the game already seemed like it belonged to a completely different afternoon.

Not even No. 38 could change the result

Indianapolis tried to respond after halftime, and a 58-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader cut into the deficit. But the Colts never got close enough to truly put Baltimore’s lead in danger.

Henry appeared again in the fourth quarter with his third rushing touchdown of the game , and the exchange of scores in the final minutes completed the scoreboard.

For Jonathan Owens, his official debut with Indianapolis ended with one combined tackle.

And so, what had started with Simone Biles running toward her husband , followed by a kiss and a greeting between the two, ended with a completely different outcome than anyone would have imagined for the first game of this new chapter.

Now comes another challenge

The loss does not define what the Colts will become throughout the entire season, but it does make their opener a particularly difficult first test. Indianapolis will have to respond quickly because Week 2 is already on the horizon.

The next game will be Sunday, September 20, 2026, when the Colts travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium .