The Colts have a pretty clear answer at tight end with Tyler Warren, but that shouldn’t be the end of the story for Indianapolis.
Will Mallory has spent too much time on the edge of the offense for a player who has shown real receiving ability whenever the Colts give him a chance. He flashed in 2023 as a pass catcher, then a foot injury slowed him in 2024, and last season his role vanished almost entirely after Warren joined the room. Mallory’s offensive snap count dropped from 159 as a rookie in 2023 to just 16 in 2025.
That kind of falloff is common enough for a former fifth-round pick, but Mallory keeps making the case that he deserves more than the occasional cameo. He has produced in preseason work, he has made play after play in training camp, and he has built chemistry with each of the Colts’ quarterbacks.
Even general manager Chris Ballard acknowledged the opportunity sitting there, saying that Mallory is, “One player we want to see what we can get more of.” Ballard also added that Mallory has been “stuck in a spot where he’s been the fourth tight end, but every time he’s played, he’s done pretty well.”
The biggest knock on Mallory has always been his blocking, and that still matters. He will never be as strong an in-line blocker as Mo Alie-Cox, or even Drew Ogletree. But in this game, he showed growth there too, with some ability to move and function in space.
That matters because there’s a path for him to stay on the field. If the Colts can use him creatively in motion or as a puller, he can be a usable blocker on run downs while still bringing value as a receiver.
The Colts already got what they wanted from Warren, who was drafted to be the alpha pass catcher in a tight end room that lacked star talent. Warren delivered immediately, setting a franchise rookie tight end record with 817 receiving yards in 17 games played. His arrival also freed up the rest of the room: Alie-Cox settled back in as one of the league’s best in-line blocking tight ends, and Ogletree added value as a blocking third tight end.
But Warren’s presence shouldn’t push Mallory completely out of the picture. Shane Steichen has too much creativity as a play-caller to ignore a mismatch threat like this, especially with the Colts lacking depth at receiver. The idea of Mallory and Warren on the field together in 12 personnel is too tempting to waste.
The Colts have waited long enough. With Mallory’s summer improvements and his receiving talent still obvious, next season needs to be the one where he finally gets a real offensive role.
In Other News...
Colts Face A Costly Anthony Richardson Decision At Quarterback
With Daniel Jones installed as the starter, the Colts have quietly settled into a quarterback order that puts Anthony Richardson Sr. in the backup role he never expected to occupy for long. Richardson was a first-round pick in 2023, but his uneven start to his career has left Indianapolis weighing not just his development, but his value as an asset if the team decides to move in a different direction.
For now, the question is whether the Colts can afford to hang on and hope Richardson still has a future in their plans, or whether this is the moment to cash in before the final year of his rookie contract runs out. ESPNs Stephen Holder has indicated the signs are pointing toward Indianapolis keeping him, even though a trade could still bring back a Day 3 pick and give the front office something in return for a quarterback whose long-term fit remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Still Has A Real Colts Path For A Reason
Anthony Richardsons future in Indianapolis still looks tied to more than just his immediate role in the quarterback room. Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds recently signaled the team expects to keep Richardson around for the 2026 season, which would put the former No. 4 overall pick into the final year of his guaranteed rookie deal. For a team that has leaned into building depth at quarterback, the combination of pedigree and roster flexibility still gives Richardson a real place in the organizations plans.
The financial side helps make that path even more practical, since his 2026 salary is modest enough that the Colts can afford to hold onto him without much strain. More importantly, Indianapolis appears to value having three quarterbacks it trusts, and Richardson remains part of that equation if injuries or circumstances force him back into action. For now, the door is still open, and the Colts do not sound ready to close it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Give Fans A Powerful Reason To Rally Beyond Football
The Colts are joining a broader local response after severe flooding hit Central Indiana, teaming with the Pacers, Fever and Noblesville Boom on a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross. It is the kind of gesture that reaches well beyond the field, especially in a state where those teams are woven into the same civic fabric and where the damage has already included casualties and widespread property loss.
Kalen Jackson said the flooding has been felt personally in the affected areas, and the size of the contribution underscores how quickly the sports community moved to help. For Colts fans, it is a reminder that the organizations presence in Indianapolis is about more than Sundays in the fall, and in moments like this, that connection can matter as much as anything that happens on the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]