The Colts got some good news ahead of a pivotal AFC South showdown: rookie tight end Tyler Warren is expected to suit up Sunday against the Houston Texans, despite being listed as questionable with an illness on Saturday. According to reports, Warren is “good to go,” and that’s a major boost for an Indianapolis team clinging to the division lead.
At 8-3, the Colts are sitting atop the AFC South, but there’s no room to exhale just yet. They’ve still got both matchups against the Texans (6-5) and Jaguars (7-4) ahead of them, meaning the division is anything but locked up. Sunday’s game is more than just a rivalry clash-it’s a tone-setter for the final stretch of the season.
Warren, the Colts’ first-round pick this year, has wasted no time making his presence felt. Through his first eight NFL starts, he’s racked up 55 catches for 662 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also finding the end zone once on the ground. That kind of production isn’t just impressive for a rookie tight end-it’s historic.
He’s already broken the franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end, and he’s within striking distance of Colts legend John Mackey’s rookie mark of 726 receiving yards, a record that’s stood since 1963. If Warren can keep up his current pace and crack the 1,000-yard mark, he’ll become just the second rookie in Colts history to do so, joining wide receiver Bill Brooks, who hit that milestone back in 1986.
Warren’s availability couldn’t come at a better time. The Colts offense has sputtered a bit in recent weeks, and they’ll be facing a Texans defense that’s been one of the stingiest in the league, allowing just 16.5 points per game-second-best in the NFL. Getting a dynamic weapon like Warren back in the lineup gives Indianapolis a much-needed playmaker in the middle of the field, especially against a defense that thrives on limiting big plays.
This matchup has playoff implications written all over it, and with Warren cleared to play, the Colts’ chances of staying on top in the AFC South just got a little brighter.