Indianapolis Colts News

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren appeared to suffer a groin injury during Wednesday's joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons, according to Joel A. Erickson. Warren went down during the session and walked off with a trainer, with James Boyd noting that he had a noticeable limp. The second-year tight end has been one of Indianapolis' busiest targets throughout camp after a big rookie season. Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games in 2025, earned a Pro Bowl selection and added another score on the ground. He was also heavily involved in last week's joint practice with New England, catching three passes on the Colts' final two-minute drive alone. Warren has quickly become a major part of Shane Steichen's offense. The timing isn't great. Indianapolis has another joint practice against Atlanta on Thursday before the two teams meet in Saturday's preseason game.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (hamstring) is on the outside looking in of Colts beat writer James Boyd of The Athletic's latest 53-man roster projection. A fifth-round pick in 2025, Giddens recorded just 26 carries for 96 yards across nine games as a rookie last season. While Indianapolis still does not have an obvious RB2 behind superstar back Jonathan Taylor, Giddens has missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury and may have missed his chance to establish a role in the Colts' offense. Instead of Giddens, Boyd includes seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan and 2025 UDFA Ulysses Bentley IV as the Colts' depth options at running back behind Taylor. Fantasy managers looking for a handcuff option for Taylor may want to turn to McGowan over Giddens.

Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated reports that the Indianapolis Colts are "still happy" with wide receiver Alec Pierce's (ankle) progress from offseason ankle surgery and "expect him to be ready for Week 1." The team's signing of veteran wideout Keenan Allen on Monday night "has nothing to do" with Pierce's recovery. Pierce had surgery on his left ankle and remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list at training camp. The 26-year-old is not expected to return during camp, yet the Colts think he will still be recovered in time to take the field in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13. Without Pierce in the fold, Josh Downs has stepped up as the Colts' top wideout, with tight end Tyler Warren also seeing plenty of run as a top target for quarterback Daniel Jones. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons and broke out in 2025 with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games played, but fantasy managers should be concerned about his chances of an encore after missing valuable time this offseason, especially now that Allen is in the mix. He has fallen to No. 50 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the 2026 campaign.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren recently saw his draft stock rise with the news of Alec Pierce (ankle) being shut down for the rest of training camp, but he's now falling back down draft boards after the team signed wide receiver Keenan Allen. Even with Pierce sidelined, Warren's volume will likely be impacted by the addition of Allen. The veteran receiver had at least 121 targets in each of the last two seasons with the Bears and Chargers, respectively. Last year, he finished with 81 catches, 777 yards, and four touchdowns, which ranked as the overall WR29. Given how productive he has remained deep into his career, the 34-year-old has a decent chance to command another 100+ targets in this Daniel Jones-led offense. Warren has the talent to maintain a fantasy-relevant role even when both Pierce and Allen are on the field, but the presence of those two receivers might limit his upside and impact his ability to string together a bunch of big performances week after week. At a certain point this offseason, Warren had a late third-round ADP, but he has now fallen to the start of the sixth round in most formats. Still, he is pretty consistently the fourth tight end off the board following Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and Colston Loveland.

Used primarily from the slot through the first three seasons of his career, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has seen extensive outside work throughout training camp, with a lack of positional depth leading to a projection of expanded usage in two-receiver sets. With the Colts signing veteran receiver Keenan Allen on Monday night, there is now reason to question how that plan may be affected, but Colts analyst Destin Adams believes Downs will still see the bulk of the work alongside Alec Pierce when two receivers are on the field, with Allen mixing in as needed. Then when the team moves to 11-personnel, Downs will kick inside while Allen mans the 'Z'. While Adams' assessment is reassuring for those calling for a Downs breakout, the impact that Allen had in making Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey one of fantasy's biggest disappointments in 2025 can not be overlooked, and Downs, who has been coming off the board as the WR43, is likely to see his ADP drop.

The Indianapolis Colts have signed free-agent wide receiver Keenan Allen to a one-year, $8.32 million contract. Allen spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 151 receptions for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns in his last 32 games. The veteran receiver will spend his 14th season in Indianapolis alongside quarterback Daniel Jones, who had a strong season before tearing his Achilles in Week 14. The team's wide receiver room was desperate for another playmaker, with Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, who is currently on the PUP list and uncertain to return in Week 1. While all three receivers will compete for targets and negatively affect each other from a fantasy perspective, Allen and Downs should have strong roles if Pierce misses time. The newly acquired receiver should be ranked around the WR50-WR60 range, while Pierce and Downs likely drop down fantasy boards with Allen's addition.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren is expected to take on a much larger target share during his second NFL season. The Colts traded away Michael Pittman Jr. this past offseason and didn't bring in any big names to fill his shoes, so a lot of his vacated targets will go to Warren. The tight end is heading into his second NFL season and will look to build on an impressive rookie campaign in which he caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns. The Penn State product was the overall TE4 in PPR leagues last year, and he achieved that mark despite playing several games without quarterback Daniel Jones, who suffered an Achilles injury. Now, Jones is healthy and Pittman is gone, setting the stage for Warren to have a massive Year 2 breakout. In the short term, he could also step into a larger role if wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) isn't quite at 100 percent in Week 1.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (left ankle) will miss all of training camp as he continues to recover from left ankle surgery, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. The surgery occurred in April, and while the Colts remain confident that he'll be ready for the regular-season opener on Sept. 13, it would have been nice to see Pierce get some preseason reps beforehand. He's still at least a week away from handling a normal practice workload, which could potentially have an impact on the number of snaps he plays in Week 1. If Pierce isn't at 100 percent for the season opener, we'd expect to see Daniel Jones distribute more targets to Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, as well as standout tight end Tyler Warren. As it stands, the newly extended Pierce ranks as the overall WR46 in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy football rankings.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. appears increasingly likely to remain with the team for the 2026 season, despite the fact that he recently requested a trade. According to Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds hinted that the former first-round pick will remain in Indianapolis to provide the team with depth. "We want to have three [quarterbacks] that can play," Dodds said. "So, if [ Richardson] is one of them, he's going to be here. ... Look at last year. You never know." Dodds, of course, was referencing the injury to Daniel Jones (Achilles) last season that required the Colts to play Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard. After Jones went down, the Colts dropped from 8-4 to 8-9. They lost five in a row, falling out of a playoff spot. Richardson has not lived up to expectations since entering the league, but he's arguably still capable of playing mediocre football to keep the Colts' playoff hopes alive in the event that Jones suffers another significant injury in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is coming off a season that would be hard for almost anyone to repeat, but there still isn't much reason to get cute with him in the first round. Taylor led the NFL with 323 carries, turning them into 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns, then added 46 catches for 378 yards and two more scores. The 20 total touchdowns are the obvious number to expect some regression from. The workload is another story. Indianapolis still has Taylor clearly atop the depth chart, with DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan behind him, and the Colts just gave the 27-year-old another contract extension. Taylor also scored during red-zone work against New England this week. Daniel Jones is back as the QB1 and has looked healthy in camp, which should help keep the offense functional around him. RotoBaller has Taylor seventh overall in half-PPR and RB4 in their rankings. There are younger backs near the top of drafts, but Taylor is still catching passes, getting the goal-line work and handling as much volume as anyone. He remains worth paying up for.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (back) briefly left training camp practice on Saturday after taking a hard fall on a leaping catch, but he later returned and should be fine, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. The Colts rested their starters in Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, including Downs, and it remains to be seen if he'll suit up for the second preseason contest on Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old has been standing out this summer as one of quarterback Daniel Jones' primary targets in the passing game with Alec Pierce still recovering from offseason ankle surgery and with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh. The former third-rounder in 2023 from North Carolina took a step back in 2025 with a 58-566-4 line in 16 games after going for a career-high 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 14 games in 2024. Even if Pierce is healthy this year, Downs has an excellent opportunity to increase his target share, making him an interesting WR3/flex target in fantasy football drafts.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (back) exited Saturday's practice early after landing hard on his back, according to Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated. According to Moore, Downs tried to walk it off but appeared to still be in pain. The 25-year-old is day-to-day for now, as the Colts should provide an update soon. Before the injury, Downs was having a strong training camp but did miss practice earlier in the week with a groin injury. The Colts are already down Alec Pierce (ankle) and can't afford to lose Downs on top of it. Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine would see an uptick in snaps if Downs were to miss any time. With Michael Pittman Jr. on the Steelers, Downs is set for a breakout year and should see an uptick in targets. Barring injury news, Downs is currently RotoBaller's WR40 and could be relied on right out of the gate with Pierce still sidelined.

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan started in Thursday's 13-13 preseason opening tie against the New England Patriots. With lead running back Jonathan Taylor held out, McGowan only racked up 17 yards on his five carries and lost a fumble. McGowan was unable to capitalize on this early opportunity to solidify himself as the team's RB2, as fellow running back DJ Giddens (hamstring) was held out of the game due to injury. Deep Dynasty managers should continue to hold out hope for McGowan as the young rookie develops and gains more experience next week against the Atlanta Falcons. If McGowan can earn that RB2 role, he could also be a valuable handcuff for Taylor managers in redraft leagues.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard started the second half of the Colts' preseason opener against the New England Patriots and completed 10 of 21 passes for 89 yards. Leonard also managed to eke out 12 yards on the ground from two rushing attempts. The sophomore quarterback out of Notre Dame threw one interception early in the third quarter while under pressure from a collapsing pocket, but eventually found his rhythm. Leonard seems to be playing for the third position on the Colts' quarterback depth chart behind Anthony Richardson Sr. and ahead of Easton Stick. He has another chance next week against the Atlanta Falcons to demonstrate progress and improve his efficiency in the air.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. had moderate success in the air and on the ground during Thursday's preseason opener 13-13 tie to the New England Patriots. As the Colts' starter with Daniel Jones (Achilles) on the mend, Richardson Sr. completed 11 of his 14 attempts for 145 yards. He also reminded fans of his dual-threat abilities and tallied 53 yards on the ground off his six carries, scoring one rushing touchdown from the goal line. However, in Richardson Sr.'s first and only half of play, he threw one interception and lost a fumble. The Colts' 2023 first-round pick will have another opportunity next week against the Atlanta Falcons to improve his ball security and try to earn the backup role behind veteran quarterback Daniel Jones.

The Indianapolis Colts were named a landing spot for current free-agent running back Najee Harris, according to Jason Garcia. Harris's 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers was cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon, marking the first games he had missed in his four-year NFL career. While the Colts just re-signed Jonathan Taylor to a two-year, $44 million extension, they don't yet have a marquee replacement for him. Taylor has averaged more than 22 carries per game over the past two seasons and has missed time due to ankle injuries. With DJ Giddens struggling at camp and only seventh-round pick Seth McGowan behind him, Harris could fill the backup role behind Taylor in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren dominated in the team's joint practice on Tuesday against the New England Patriots, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. Warren was immediately productive for the Colts in 2025 after they took him 14th overall from Penn State, catching 76 of 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games to finish as the TE6 in half-PPR scoring. With quarterback Daniel Jones recovered from an Achilles tear, receiver Michael Pittman Jr. out of town, and receiver Alec Pierce still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Warren's arrow is pointing firmly up heading into his second year in the NFL as one of the best TE targets in fantasy. The 24-year-old is an obvious candidate to see his role grow in the Colts' offense this year and has been impressive this spring and summer. If you don't pay the high price for the elite tight ends like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers, Warren is a totally acceptable consolation prize in the next tier down.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. will start Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, according to Joel A. Erickson. Richardson will play the entire first half before Riley Leonard takes over for the second. The Colts will flip that setup against Atlanta on Aug. 22, with Leonard starting the first half and Richardson finishing the game. Daniel Jones will not play in either contest, leaving plenty of snaps for Indianapolis to evaluate its backup competition. Richardson and Leonard have split second- and third-team work throughout camp, and neither has separated yet. Those reps are especially useful for Richardson after he barely saw the field in 2025. He appeared in two games before suffering a fractured orbital bone during pregame warmups in Week 6 and spending the rest of the season on injured reserve. Jones remains firmly established as the starter, so Richardson and Leonard are fighting for the No. 2 job rather than a path to immediate fantasy value.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) will not play during the preseason, according to Jonathan Jones. Head coach Shane Steichen announced the decision Tuesday as Jones continues his return from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season in Week 14. The good news is that Jones has been a full participant in training camp, so there is nothing here suggesting he has suffered a setback. He started 13 games last season and completed 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 164 yards and five more scores on the ground. The Colts also have no quarterback decision to make with Jones, who enters the season as their unquestioned starter. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. are instead competing for the backup job and should get plenty of preseason work. Jones remains RotoBaller's QB24, and sitting out exhibition games should not change much for fantasy managers as long as he continues practicing without limitations.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is in attendance for Tuesday's joint practice session with the New England Patriots, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Downs missed three consecutive practices while dealing with a groin issue, but after a travel day on Monday, he will take the field in Foxboro. With starters unlikely to see much, if any, action in the team's preseason opener on Thursday, Tuesday's work against an unfamiliar opponent will serve to prepare the team for the regular season, and Downs' presence is a major boon. At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a 2026 breakout candidate who could be in line for his second career 100-target season following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. in an offseason trade to the Steelers.