Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darius Slayton will not play against the Washington Commanders in Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season, as the veteran receiver has been ruled inactive for Sunday’s game in London.
Slayton is listed as a healthy scratch due to a coach’s decision, rather than being sidelined by an injury.
Why Is Darius Slayton Not Playing vs. Commanders?
Slayton joined the Colts on September 21, leaving him with limited time to learn Indianapolis’ offensive system and develop chemistry with the quarterbacks and the rest of the receiving corps.
Despite the Colts entering Week 4 shorthanded at wide receiver, Indianapolis has elected to give Slayton additional time to get acclimated before potentially adding him to the active gameday lineup.
His inactive status is particularly notable because Indianapolis is already missing two important receivers.
Keenan Allen is inactive because of a groin injury, while Alec Pierce remains on injured reserve with a heel injury and will miss his second consecutive game.
Colts Wide Receiver Depth Chart vs. Commanders
With Slayton, Allen and Pierce unavailable, the Colts will have the following wide receivers available against Washington:
- Josh Downs
- Laquon Treadwell
- Ashton Dulin
- Deion Burks
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Anthony Gould
Downs could take on an especially important role in the Indianapolis passing attack with several established receivers unavailable.
Is Darius Slayton Injured?
No. Slayton’s Week 4 absence is not injury-related. He is inactive because of a coach’s decision.
The Colts signed Slayton on September 21, and the coaching staff apparently believes the veteran needs additional preparation time before making his Indianapolis debut.
That makes his status worth monitoring going into Week 5. Another full week of practice could give Slayton a better opportunity to earn a spot on the active gameday roster.
Colts WR Injuries Becoming a Week 4 Storyline
Indianapolis’ receiver depth will be tested heavily against the Commanders.
The combination of Allen’s groin injury, Pierce’s injured-reserve stint and Slayton’s healthy-scratch designation leaves the Colts relying on a significantly different group of receivers than they might have anticipated entering the season.
Downs figures to be one of the primary passing-game options, while Treadwell, Dulin, Burks, Westbrook-Ikhine and Gould could all see increased opportunities.
When Will Darius Slayton Play for the Colts?
There is currently no guarantee that Slayton will make his Colts debut in Week 5, but his healthy status means his availability will largely depend on how quickly he becomes comfortable with the Indianapolis offense.
For now, Slayton will watch from the sideline as the Colts face the Commanders in London in Week 4 of the 2026 NFL regular season.