Training camp is still about a month away for the Indianapolis Colts, but the running back room already has one of the clearer battles worth watching.
Jonathan Taylor is locked in as the lead back. The real question is who steps in behind him, and right now that fight appears to be between DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan. Second-year back Ulysses Bentley is also on the roster, but the early focus is on those two.
The offseason work gave the Colts a first look at how this could shake out, even if the position is tough to fully judge before the pads come on. Both Giddens and McGowan showed enough to leave the door open.
"This offseason, Giddens looks much more comfortable and decisive, and rookie seventh-round pick Seth McGowan is running with 100% effort," Jake Arthur of Roundtable Sports wrote. "No one can compare with Taylor, but if either Giddens or McGowan proves capable in pass protection and/or on special teams, the Colts might already have a real backup on the roster."
Giddens has the edge in experience, with a year under his belt, and Shane Steichen has already seen him make strides. McGowan has also made an impression early, drawing attention from Taylor while bringing a physical element to the position.
For now, Giddens gets the nod as RB2 on the depth chart. The deciding factors could come down to pass protection, work in the passing game, and special teams value.
Even with the competition in the background, the expectation remains the same: Taylor will continue to carry the load at running back.
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