With the preseason set to begin Thursday against the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts are reaching the point where training camp performances start to matter in a bigger way. The roster is nearly set, but there are still jobs to win, depth-chart spots to settle and a few players making strong cases while others are slipping.
Daniel Jones has been one of the clearest bright spots. He was back well before Week 1 after tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 14 last season, and he was ready when camp opened.
He has hardly looked like a quarterback working his way back from a major injury, which suggests he should be able to run when needed once games count. Beyond the health, he also seems to have a better handle on the offense than he did last year, when he helped the Colts reach historic heights in the first half of the season.
If that level of play holds over the full 2026 season, Indianapolis could surprise plenty of people and get back to the playoffs.
On the other side of the quarterback room, Anthony Richardson has not helped himself. His camp has been rough, even as the Colts continue to give him chances to matter.
After failing as a starter in his first two seasons, he is now fighting Riley Leonard for the QB2 job. Leonard looks like the cleaner fit as Jones’ backup: he has three years left on his contract, knows his role and, unlike Richardson, does not want to be traded.
He also has not dealt with the same problem Richardson has shown in camp, namely the inability to consistently hold onto the ball after the snap.
The Colts have also gotten encouraging work from Colby Wooden. When Indianapolis traded linebacker Zaire Franklin this offseason, Wooden did not look like the kind of return that would move the needle much.
He had only become a full-time starter in 2025, his third year in the league, and came in with just half a sack on his résumé. He was viewed more as a run defender than a real rotational threat.
In camp, though, Wooden has continued to hold up against the run and has also shown he can pressure the quarterback. He may have found the right system in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme, which could end up helping both sides in 2026.
Laquon Treadwell, meanwhile, has not done much to improve his standing. It is still a bit of a mystery how he has lasted 10 seasons after being a first-round bust for the Minnesota Vikings, especially since he does not bring much as a receiver and his special teams value can be duplicated by others.
He is trending toward a third year in Indianapolis, but the camp results have not been kind. The Colts need someone to step into the WR3 role, and Treadwell has not answered that call.
Ashton Dulin has been better, and free-agent addition Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has been better too. Indianapolis may keep Treadwell because it has done so the last two years, but he is not climbing the depth chart.
Rookie running back Seth McGowan has been another winner. A seventh-round pick, he was already known as a big, physical runner who can handle the hard yards.
What he has added in camp is more juice: nimble feet and speed. Jonathan Taylor is still the starter, but McGowan has a real chance to be RB2.
He fits the type of bigger backup back the Colts have needed behind Taylor, and if he carries this camp momentum into the preseason, he should lock down the long-term backup job.
In Other News...
Colts May Have One Last Chance To Salvage Anthony Richardson Value
Anthony Richardsons place in Indianapolis remains one of the more delicate storylines around the roster, especially with the quarterback room still sorting itself out. A recent trade proposal has put his name back into the conversation, suggesting the Colts could at least explore ways to preserve some value if he does not climb the depth chart the way they hope.
In that scenario, the idea would send Richardson to a contender looking for extra insurance at quarterback, with the thought that another team could view him as a developmental piece rather than a lost cause. For the Colts, it is the kind of move that would force an uncomfortable choice between patience and practicality, and it leaves open the bigger question of whether they are really prepared to move on this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Warren Just Changed The Feel Of Colts Camp
The Colts got a lively dose of good work during their joint practice with the Patriots, and tight end Tyler Warren was right in the middle of it. For a team still sorting through camp competition and building toward the regular season, a strong showing in a controlled setting can matter, especially when the offense is trying to establish rhythm and confidence against another defense.
There was also some reassuring news around the rest of the roster, with several players back on the field after injuries and general manager Chris Ballard clearing up the status of Alec Pierce. The attention now shifts to the preseason opener, where Indianapolis will get a first real look at its quarterback plan for game action, adding another layer to a camp that suddenly feels a little more settled, and a little more interesting, than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Have 3 Players Who Should Be Nowhere Near Preseason Action
With the Colts set for their first preseason game of 2026 against the Patriots, the bigger question is less about the score and more about who should not see the field at all. After dealing with injuries last season, Indianapolis has every reason to be cautious with players it cannot afford to lose, and that starts with quarterback Daniel Jones, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and tight end Tyler Warren.
There is real value in letting the backup quarterbacks, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson, handle the exhibition snaps while the established core watches from the sideline. Preseason has a way of tempting teams to chase rhythm and reps, but for a roster with important pieces to protect, the smarter move may be limiting exposure now so the meaningful games are not compromised later. [Read more 🡒]