With game week arriving, the Colts’ rookie class is finally coming into focus, and the clearest early winner appears to be Seth McGowan.
Indianapolis kept all eight draft picks on the 53-man roster, along with one undrafted free agent, and McGowan has separated himself more than any other first-year player. The rookie running back has done enough this offseason to lock down the backup job behind Jonathan Taylor, and he’s already positioned to get a series or two in relief.
The picture is murkier everywhere else.
At linebacker, CJ Allen is expected to begin the season as a backup after missing significant time in camp. Lou Anarumo has said the Colts will rotate at the position, but it remains unclear how quickly Allen will be folded into that plan.
Bryce Boettcher is in a similar spot, with both rookies sitting near the bottom of a five-man linebacker group that also includes Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake. How that pecking order changes as the season goes on is still an open question.
The secondary has its own uncertainty. A.J.
Haulcy’s August has been a grind, though not because of his play. The issue has been availability, with the rookie safety missing practice for a couple weeks because of an ankle injury.
That leaves the Colts with a decision to make: does Haulcy get his starting job back, or is Hunter Wohler the better bet to line up next to Cam Bynum on Sunday?
On the offensive line, Jalen Farmer looks set to open the year as the first guard off the bench. He’s also been dealing with a nagging knee injury for much of the offseason, which has only added to the uncertainty around his role.
Up front on defense, George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry are both fighting for whatever snaps are available behind Laiatu Latu and Arden Key. The Colts may not be able to dress both on game days, but one of them could still find a path into the rotation. Gumbs also should help on special teams, while Curry’s college background included plenty of special teams work as well.
Wide receiver Deion Burks made the roster, but the expectation is that his role will be limited. His inability to prove he could handle punt return duties hurt his chances of carving out early playing time.
Among the undrafted rookies, Tahj Chambers was the only one to make the 53-man roster. He’s projected to be a special teamer first in a six-man linebacker room.
In Other News...
Colts Suddenly Have A Week 1 Boost Baltimore Had To Notice
Alec Pierces recovery has become one of the more encouraging developments around Indianapolis as the Colts head toward their season opener against Baltimore. The wide receiver missed most of training camp while working back from ankle surgery, but he has now returned to full-team practice and moved from positional work into full offensive participation, a sign the Colts had to be glad to see with Week 1 approaching.
Shane Steichen said Pierce is feeling good and will keep getting more reps before the game, which gives Indianapolis a welcome boost at a time when opening-night readiness matters. Whether Pierce is fully back to his usual workload right away is still the question, but the Colts have at least put themselves in position to have him available when the Ravens arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Got An AFC South Reality Check Fans Wont Like
The AFC South is shaping up as a division with a clear top tier, and the latest roster ranking does not flatter Indianapolis. Houston comes out first, Jacksonville is close behind, and the Colts land third, ahead of only Tennessee in a breakdown that weighs overall talent, coaching impact, and how much uncertainty each team still carries. For a club trying to push back into the playoff mix, that kind of placement is a reminder that the division race may be tighter than it looks on paper.
The Colts still have pieces worth building around, but the concerns are hard to ignore, especially when it comes to health and depth. Houston brings its own questions on offense, yet the Texans were still viewed as the strongest roster in the division, while Jacksonvilles place near the top only adds to the pressure in Indianapolis. In a four-team race where every edge matters, the Colts are being asked to prove they belong in the conversation rather than simply hoping the rest of the AFC South slips. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Faces A Defining Colts Season For More Than One Reason
Daniel Jones is back in the Colts huddle for a second season, and this one carries far more certainty than the last. After working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon in seven months, he returned to full participation in training camp and now enters the year as Indianapolis clear starting quarterback, with the franchise showing its commitment by giving him a two-year contract extension.
Jones still has plenty to establish, though, because the second year of that deal is not something he can take for granted. He has to prove both that the injury is truly behind him and that his play matches the trust the Colts have placed in him, making this a pivotal season for his health, his job security and the direction of the offense. [Read more 🡒]