Seth McGowan didn’t arrive in Indianapolis with much room for error. A seventh-round pick usually has to scrape and claw for every snap, and that’s especially true when Jonathan Taylor already anchors the Colts’ offense. But running back is one of those spots where a rookie can change the conversation fast if the style fits and the toughness shows up on tape.
That’s exactly what McGowan is trying to do in camp. The Colts still don’t have a settled backup behind Taylor, and McGowan has started to make his own case for the job.
Last season at Kentucky, he led the team with 725 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and the early word around camp has centered on the way he runs: decisive, physical and willing to finish through contact. Shane Steichen put it plainly, saying McGowan is “not scared of contact,” which is the kind of trait that tends to get a rookie noticed.
The appeal is easy to see. McGowan is built like a bigger back who can get downhill and run behind his pads, but he’s not just a bruiser for short-yardage work.
There’s enough burst for him to get outside when the lane opens, and that matters for a Colts offense that needs a backup who can do more than survive a few inside carries. If Taylor comes off the field, the offense needs someone who can keep things moving - whether that means pounding between the tackles, pressing the edge or creating something when the blocking isn’t clean.
That’s why the competition with DJ Giddens matters. Giddens, a 2025 fifth-round pick, came into the league with a little more draft capital behind him, but he didn’t do much last season and still hasn’t done enough to lock up the No. 2 job. If McGowan keeps looking more decisive, more physical or more explosive through camp and the preseason, the fact that he was taken in the seventh round won’t matter much.
Jonathan Taylor’s view of McGowan only adds to the intrigue. Taylor reportedly compared him to David Montgomery, which doesn’t mean the Colts have already found their next big thing or that McGowan is suddenly Montgomery.
But it does tell you what’s standing out. Montgomery has made a living by running tough, staying decisive and finishing plays with force.
If Taylor sees even a slice of that in McGowan, it helps explain why the rookie is drawing attention now.
There’s also a bigger reason this matters. Taylor is still the engine here, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and has dealt with injuries in past seasons.
The Colts have also talked about reducing his workload, and that only works if someone else earns real trust. The backup role isn’t some throwaway spot this year.
It could mean six to eight touches a game, more if Taylor misses time, and potentially a much larger role next season if the Colts and Taylor don’t reach another deal.
Still, McGowan isn’t being handed anything. He has to show the other parts that keep young backs on the field: pass protection, ball security, consistency and special teams value. Running hard is a strong start, but coaches also need to know he won’t get the quarterback hit, won’t put the ball on the ground and can handle the details.
For now, the Colts need a backup, Giddens hasn’t separated, and McGowan has the kind of physical style that tends to stand out once the pads come on. He doesn’t need to be the future starter today.
He just needs to become too useful to ignore. On this roster, that could be enough.
In Other News...
Colts Backup QB Battle Just Put Anthony Richardson On Notice
Training camp has already turned the Colts backup quarterback job into a real subplot behind Daniel Jones, with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson both getting long looks as the team sorts out its depth chart. Indianapolis still intends to keep Richardson in the fold, but the early tone of camp suggests the competition is doing exactly what it was meant to do: push both passers and force the staff to pay close attention to every rep.
Leonard has made the stronger early impression in practice, showing more consistency in key moments and flashing the kind of live arm that can change how a roster conversation sounds in a hurry. If that gap keeps growing, the Colts may have a tougher call than they expected, especially with Richardson trying to hold off a challenger who has already started to make his case. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Camp Battles Are Starting To Reveal Some Tough Early Answers
Midway through training camp, the Colts are already getting a better sense of where some of the roster fights are headed, and not every competition is creating the same kind of suspense. The backup quarterback spot has drawn plenty of attention because of the names involved, while the kicking job has also become one of the more closely watched battles as the team sorts through its options.
There is still time for things to change, but the early pecking order is starting to take shape in a few key areas. At linebacker and defensive end, the Colts are still looking at open-ended competitions with no clear starters established yet, which should keep those spots worth tracking as camp moves on and the workload ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Is Giving Colts Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Daniel Jones is back on the field for the Colts early in training camp, and the early signs are encouraging. Coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in December, the quarterback said he feels good and has been able to work through the playbook without limitations while taking part in practices.
Jones has already been lining up under center, a small but meaningful checkpoint for a player working his way back from a major lower-leg injury. The emphasis now is on how well he can keep pushing off that foot and stay on time, the kind of detail that will tell the Colts plenty about where he really stands as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]