Anderson Castle is making a real case in Indianapolis, and the Colts rookie has done it the hard way.
Signed as an undrafted free agent, Castle arrived with an unusual college résumé. He didn’t pile up a ton of carries at Appalachian State or Duke, but when the ball found him, he finished the job. In 2025, he scored 12 touchdowns on only 115 carries.
That knack has carried over into Colts camp. At 6-foot and 215 pounds, Castle has stood out early, even if his path is crowded from the start.
As a UDFA, he sits low on the depth chart, which means most of his work has come against players who are not expected to shape the roster. For him to make this thing interesting, he has to flash against better competition and keep doing it in preseason action.
So far, he’s handled the second part. Against New England, Castle led Indianapolis running backs with nine carries and turned them into 47 yards, good for 5.2 yards per rush.
He didn’t get a chance in the passing game, though that could change in preseason Weeks 2 or 3. Even with that limited sample, he’s giving himself a shot not only with the Colts, but with any other team watching closely before final cuts on August 30.
The problem for Castle is simple: Indianapolis already has Jonathan Taylor, one of the league’s better backs. Behind him, the backup picture is still unsettled, with rookie Seth McGowan and second-year player DJ Giddens in the mix. If the Colts keep just three tailbacks, Castle would likely be the one left out.
Still, he may be pushing the team toward a tougher decision somewhere else. That’s the kind of pressure a camp sleeper can create when he keeps showing up in the right moments.
And there’s a reason this profile fits him. Castle was underused in college, but he looks like the kind of back who could slide neatly into Shane Steichen’s system.
In short-yardage situations, he could be the sort of runner who keeps finding the end zone, even if he’s not the biggest body on the field. Some players just have that feel for scoring, and Castle had it in college and has carried it into camp.
The next two preseason games matter a lot here. If Castle keeps getting touches, he has a chance to turn them into more proof. And if Indianapolis doesn’t have room for him on August 30, somebody else probably will.
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