The Colts’ first regular-season depth chart of 2026 answers one big question right away: Daniel Jones is the backup quarterback behind Anthony Richardson Sr., and the old “OR” tag is gone.
That’s the clearest shift at the top of the board, but it’s not the only one worth watching. Indianapolis also has rookie Seth McGowan ahead of DJ Giddens at running back, while the linebacker picture still looks unsettled even with Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies listed as starters.
At quarterback, the order now runs Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard. The release of the first depth chart removes any ambiguity from the backup spot, making Richardson Sr. the “one play away” option behind Jones.
Running back brings another notable wrinkle. Jonathan Taylor sits at the top, but McGowan’s climb over Giddens stands out. How the Colts split the work behind Taylor remains unclear, yet McGowan has clearly done enough to move ahead on the initial chart.
The receiver group reflects the impact of Keenan Allen’s arrival. Alec Pierce and Laquon Treadwell are listed together on one line, Josh Downs sits on his own, and Allen shares a line with Ashton Dulin and rookie Deion Burks. The Colts do not lean heavily on a fourth wide receiver, but Allen’s addition does push Dulin and Treadwell down a level in the pecking order.
Up front, Luke Tenuta is back on the active roster after being brought back Tuesday, and he’s the backup tackle. If Indianapolis chooses not to dress him on game day, Matt Goncalves would handle emergency tackle duties.
On defense, the edges are led by Arden Key and Laiatu Latu, with Jaylahn Tuimoloau and Micheal Clemons behind them. The Colts’ rotation at defensive end remains one of the more open questions, especially when it comes to how many snaps Tuimoloau gets behind Key.
The linebacker group may be the most interesting part of the chart. Davis-Gaither and Carlies are the starters, but the rest of the rotation is far from settled.
Carlies, after playing just 2 defensive snaps last season, is now in line for a starting role. Rookie CJ Allen is also a name to watch; if he’s 3 rd, 4 th or 5 th on the depth chart, it’s fair to wonder how much of a game day role he can realistically have in September.
In the secondary, Charvarius Ward Sr. and Johnathan Edwards are listed at cornerback, with Sauce Gardner on the other side of the grouping. Justin Walley and Kapena Gushiken* are at nickel, Cam Bynum and Jonathan Owens are at free safety, and A.J.
Haulcy* is listed as the strong safety starter with Hunter Wohler behind him. Haulcy has missed multiple weeks because of an ankle issue, so Wohler could end up getting his first NFL action in a starting role on Sunday.
There’s one more wrinkle on special teams. Anthony Gould is on the practice squad at punt returner, and the Colts can elevate him up to 3 times during the season for those duties. If Ashton Dulin takes over punt returning full-time, that would mark a change from last year, when Downs handled about half of the team’s punt returns.
In Other News...
Colts Defensive Overhaul Just Sent A Former Starter To A Rival
The Colts defensive makeover keeps reshaping the back end of the roster, and Jaylon Jones is the latest familiar name to land elsewhere. Indianapolis waived the cornerback, he cleared waivers, chose free agency and then signed with the Tennessee Titans, giving him a quick path to a division rival after previously spending time in a key role for the Colts.
Jones now reunites with Titans defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who coached him in Indianapolis, while the Colts continue sorting out their secondary under new coordinator Lou Anarumo. The move is another sign that the scheme change is more than cosmetic for Indianapolis, with old pieces falling away as the team looks for defenders who fit the new approach better. [Read more 🡒]
Former Colts Starter Just Created An Awkward AFC South Test
Jaylon Jones move across the AFC South is the sort of roster swing that can linger on the schedule. The former Colts cornerback, who made 17 starts in 2024, was let go after injuries and a less effective 2025 season made it harder for Indianapolis to keep him in the mix. Tennessee wasted little time giving him a new home, adding him to the active roster as it continues reshaping its defense.
For the Colts, the awkward part is obvious: if these teams meet, Jones will be standing on the opposite sideline with a chance to line up against his old team. Tennessees new defensive setup could give him an opening to play, while Indianapolis enters the matchup with a cornerback group that looks far deeper and better positioned to limit whatever role he ends up carving out. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Suddenly Has A Colts Opportunity He Can't Waste
Sam Darnolds early exit in Seattle offered a reminder of how quickly a quarterback room can change, and for the Colts, that reality carries a direct effect on Anthony Richardson. Darnold was injured in the first game of the season and did not return, with Drew Lock taking over and helping the Seahawks finish off the win, while reports afterward said the MRI looked good. Even so, the episode underscored the fragile nature of a season behind center, especially for a team with quarterback depth questions already hanging over it.
For Richardson, the message is simple: stay ready, because an opportunity could arrive sooner than expected if Daniel Jones misses time at any point. The Colts have invested heavily in the quarterback position and need someone capable of stepping in without the offense losing its identity, which puts added importance on Richardson being prepared for whatever comes next. In a league where one injury can change the depth chart overnight, this is the kind of opening he cannot afford to let pass. [Read more 🡒]