The Colts are heading into Sunday’s trip to Jacksonville with a healthier look than they’ve had in weeks, and the biggest boost comes from getting Tyler Warren and Sauce Gardner back in the mix.
Indianapolis (2-5) enters the matchup against the Jaguars (4-2) with both players off the injury report after missing time recently. Warren sat out the last two games with a groin injury, while Gardner missed last week because of a calf issue. With Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner already out of the picture after recent trade departures, those two are among the most important names on the roster.
The Colts also got rookie linebacker CJ Allen back in full on Friday after he was expected to make his first career start last week before an ankle injury pushed that back. Anthony Gould, though, will not be available again after being ruled out with a concussion.
Here’s how Indianapolis’ week unfolded: Bryce Boettcher and Justin Walley both opened the week as non-participants and stayed there through Friday, with Walley eventually ruled out because of a knee injury. Drew Ogletree also missed Friday and was listed as out with a knee issue. Gardner, Matt Goncalves, Anthony Gould, Tim Smith, and Rigoberto Sanchez all moved from limited work on Wednesday to full participation by Friday, while Warren went from limited on Wednesday to limited again on Thursday before finishing the week as a full participant.
Gould’s absence leaves kickoff return duties to Ashton Dulin and Seth McGowan, while punt returns should go to either Dulin or Josh Downs. Walley’s injury opens the door for Kapena Gushiken to work in the slot, and Gardner’s return helps cover for the losses of Walley and Cam Taylor Britt, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Boettcher has now gone two weeks without practicing and missed last week’s game, so his status being anything other than out would be a surprise. Ogletree’s absence would not carry the same weight, with Mo Alie-Cox and Pharaoh Brown available as blockers and Warren and Will Mallory handling the pass-catching side.
Jacksonville comes out of the bye in decent shape, with a few players returning after recent absences. The one concern came late in the week, when Jakobi Meyers landed on the questionable list after missing Friday with hamstring and ankle injuries.
Meyers matters here. He’s second on the Jaguars in receiving yards with 285, and his availability could shape how Jacksonville attacks this game. Safety Antonio Johnson is also in question after missing every practice with an ankle injury, and Kaevon Merriweather sits behind him on the depth chart.
The Jaguars did get some good news of their own. CB Montaric Brown and TE Brenton Strange were full participants all week and are set to play. Brown had missed Week 6 with his injury and also sat out Week 4, while long snapper Ross Matiscik, who missed Jacksonville’s last game in Week 6, is also good to go after working back from a shoulder issue.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Gives Colts Fans One Less Thing To Worry About
Jonathan Taylor looks set to give Colts fans a little stability heading into Week 8, with the running back expected to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Shane Steichen said Taylor will be available, and the plan is for him to go into the game without any additional limitation on his reps, a welcome bit of clarity for an offense that can use as much certainty as it can get.
Josh Downs is also expected to be active, even as his situation continues to hang over the roster. Downs has requested a trade and is headed for free agency next year, but for now he remains part of the mix as Indianapolis prepares for a divisional test that could benefit from having both playmakers on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Ugly Jaguars Loss Just Put Everyone On Notice
The collapse in Jacksonville left the Colts in a familiar but increasingly uncomfortable spot, staring at a 42-7 defeat that extended the losing streak to four and turned a rough stretch into something much harder to ignore. What stood out most was not just the score, but the way the game looked from start to finish, with the Jaguars in control and Indianapolis never finding much of a response.
Shane Steichens postgame tone suggested this is no longer about one bad afternoon or one isolated phase of play. The coaching staff is now looking at every part of the roster, and the latest quarterback wrinkle only added to the unease around the team. With questions already swirling about possible changes, the Colts have reached a point where even routine decisions suddenly feel like part of a much bigger reckoning. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Ugly Loss Just Made One Trade Deadline Question Even Bigger
The Colts 42-7 loss to Jacksonville only sharpened the questions around a team already trying to sort out its future at 2-6. Indianapolis has been leaning on younger players like DJ Giddens as trade chatter continues to follow Jonathan Taylor, but the wider issue after a lopsided defeat was how much more turbulence the roster could absorb.
Josh Downs added another layer to that uncertainty with four catches for 23 yards and the Colts only touchdown, then was not in the locker room afterward amid reports of a public trade request. The team had still not heard from him after the game, and for a Colts offense already searching for answers, that makes the deadline conversation feel even bigger than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]