The Colts’ trade deadline purge changed the look of the roster fast, and it also sharpened the conversation around who might still be part of the next version of this team. With Keenan Allen and Josh Downs gone, and after earlier moves involving DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis is staring at a roster overhaul that doesn’t leave much room for mistakes.
That makes the upcoming free-agent decisions just as important as anything that happened at the deadline. The Colts have several notable names heading toward the market, and the way things stand now, each one seems to be in a very different spot.
Anthony Richardson remains the biggest question. Even with Daniel Jones struggling and the playoffs likely out of reach, the coaching staff has stuck with Jones and has not gone back to Richardson.
Shane Steichen and company moved away from him a long time ago, and while there are reasons for that, the case for giving him another shot is still there. Indianapolis couldn’t find a trade partner for him, but a cheap free-agent deal would almost certainly draw interest from other teams.
A return to the Colts does not sound likely, though the new regime may still believe he is worth trying to salvage.
Grover Stewart’s situation feels more open-ended. The Colts did not move him at the deadline, even though several teams could have used a veteran defensive tackle who can help against the run.
Indianapolis reportedly tried to work out a deal, but nothing came together. Stewart is past his peak and probably won’t command a major free-agent payday, but he still has enough left to contribute.
A short-term, team-friendly reunion would not be a shock, although unless something changes, he is expected to be playing for a different defensive coordinator.
Spencer Shrader has already done enough to make a strong case for staying. The Colts found a kicker they could trust, and in a season like this, that matters more than it should.
Shrader beat out Blake Grupe in training camp, which ended up standing out as one of the bright spots of the year. Even with a few minor mistakes, he has been the team’s most important player.
That alone puts him in position to earn a new deal and remain in Circle City in 2027.
Ashton Dulin has a chance to change his own outlook over the final eight weeks. Indianapolis now has the most depleted wide receiver group in pro football, and Alec Pierce’s return looks like a long shot.
The Colts have little reason to push him back onto the field, which opens the door for Dulin. He had plenty of offseason buzz, but for most of the season he has barely made an impact in the passing game.
With Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Alec Pierce all out of the picture, Daniel Jones needs someone to target. Dulin now has a real opportunity to finish strong and show he is more than a special teams piece.
In Other News...
Colts Get One Key Return As Injury Trouble Keeps Growing
The Colts got a needed boost on the defensive line this week by activating Arden Key from injured reserve ahead of their Week 10 game, a small bit of good news for a roster that has been juggling health issues for much of the season. Indianapolis also added linebacker West Weeks to the 53-man roster, another move aimed at keeping the depth chart intact as the team tries to stay steady through the middle of the schedule.
Mo Alie-Cox and Akeem Davis-Gaither were both placed on injured reserve, adding to the list of unavailable pieces and forcing the Colts to keep reshuffling. For a team already managing a steady stream of injury trouble, the latest roster moves are less about long-term planning than getting through another week with enough bodies in place to compete. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans Are Losing Faith In This Rebuild Fast
The mood around the Colts has taken another hit, and it is not hard to see why. A recent SB Nation Reacts survey found only 17 percent of Indianapolis fans feel confident in the teams direction, a slight drop from the week before, as the losses keep piling up and the roster keeps changing around them.
Five straight defeats have only deepened the sense that this is a franchise in transition, but not yet one with a clear finish line. The Colts have already moved on from key names such as Quenton Nelson, DeForest Buckner, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, and while that points to a long-term rebuild, it has also left plenty of uncertainty about where the team is headed and who will be steering it there. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Shuffle Key Depth Pieces Before A Crucial Dolphins Test
The Colts made a series of roster moves ahead of their Week 10 matchup with the Dolphins, bringing defensive end Arden Key back from injured reserve and adding linebacker West Weeks to the 53-man roster. It is the kind of midseason shuffle teams make when the calendar tightens and every available body matters, especially with Miami coming up next.
Indianapolis also had to absorb a pair of losses, placing tight end Mo Alie-Cox and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither on injured reserve, which will keep both out for at least four games. The timing adds another layer of uncertainty for a Colts team trying to stay organized on both sides of the ball while sorting out its depth heading into a key AFC test. [Read more 🡒]