Indianapolis Colts News

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.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) did not receive a second platelet-rich plasma injection this offseason after having surgery on his left ankle in late March, a league source told Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Monday night's source told the Indy Star that it had misspoken. Pierce remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list in training camp, and there is no timetable for him to return to practice with the rest of the team. The 26-year-old still has time to get back on the field and get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, but the longer he's away from the team, the harder it will be to get behind him as a solid fantasy contributor in 2026. When healthy, the former second-rounder from the University of Cincinnati has been a strong deep threat for the Colts' offense, leading the league the last two seasons in yards per reception 21.8 while scoring 13 touchdowns. Pierce is expected to take on a much bigger role in Indy's passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. out of town, but he might need to be eased in to start his fifth NFL campaign. Fantasy managers should consider Pierce more of a boom/bust WR3/flex commodity as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery. UPDATE: General manager Chris Ballard said that while Pierce still doesn't have a timetable to come off the PUP list, he hasn't had any setbacks and is making positive strides in his recovery, per ESPN's Stephen Holder.

The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has "come alive" in the team's recent training camp practices and "continues to strengthen his case" to be Indy's third starting receiver over veterans Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell. Dulin and Treadwell have made some plays, but they have not been as consistent as Westbrook-Ikhine. The 29-year-old "always seems to be in the right place at the right time," and he is quickly building chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones. The former undrafted free agent from the University of Indiana caught just 11 of his 20 targets for 89 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games (three starts) in 2025 with the Miami Dolphins, but Westbrook-Ikhine had 497 receiving yards and a career-high nine touchdowns on 32 receptions in 17 games with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 and could quickly become a regular contributor with the Colts in 2026. For now, fantasy managers should be ignoring him as a late-round flier in favor of higher-upside receivers, but if Alec Pierce (ankle) is not ready for the start of the regular season, Westbrook-Ikhine will become a bit more interesting as a deep sleeper.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) is not expected to play in the preseason, per The Athletic's James Boyd. According to Boyd, Jones will participate only in Tuesday's joint practice with the New England Patriots and will sit out Thursday's game. The former sixth-overall pick has looked sharp in practice and earned praise from his teammates. Veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox said, "He looks like he never got hurt," while guard Quenton Nelson said, "He's been incredible. He's back like he's never left." In his first season with the Colts in 2025, Jones recorded 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, and added 164 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was the QB7 before the injury, averaging 19.4 fantasy points per game. Jones is ranked QB24 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, offering upside at a reasonable price.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) recently received a second platelet-rich plasma injection and has no timetable for a return. Pierce underwent surgery on his left ankle in March and has yet to practice this offseason. PRP injections are used to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and improve function. It's not ideal that nearly five months later, Pierce is still experiencing pain and instability. With no timetable for return, fantasy managers should be legitimately concerned. Websites and medical advisors report that improvements typically occur two to six months after the injection, so Pierce may be out until after the season begins. Ranked WR38 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Pierce should drop significantly after this report.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is not practicing on Sunday as he deals with a groin issue that has now sidelined him for the past two days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) missing all of training camp on the PUP list as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, Downs had been a focal point of the Colts' offense, but with his absence testing the team's positional depth, quarterback Daniel Jones will likely take to the field on Sunday with a first-team offense of Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and a potential combination of Anthony Gould and Laquon Treadwell (hamstring). At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a popular breakout candidate ahead of his fourth season, but any prolonged absence could see him slip in drafts.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin enjoyed one of his busiest and most productive days of training camp on Saturday. With Josh Downs (groin) and Laquon Treadwell (hamstring) both absent from a practice that saw a heavy emphasis on red zone work, Dulin saw the majority of first-team reps alongside Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Anthony Gould, but it was the eighth-year former UDFA who earned the most looks from Daniel Jones. Dulin scored a toe-tap touchdown on the first drive of 7-on-7 sessions and remained involved throughout the day. With Alec Pierce on the PUP list following offseason ankle surgery, the battle for the team's third wide receiver spot has had an even brighter spotlight shined on it throughout camp, and Dulin appears to have the edge, regularly taking advantage of the opportunities presented. While he could find his way onto the field in three-receiver sets, he still sits well behind Pierce and Downs in any projected pecking order, and with tight end Tyler Warren also expected to see heavy involvement in what has historically been a run-heavy Shane Steichen offense, Dulin is unlikely to find fantasy viability in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has reportedly fallen behind Riley Leonard in the competition for the backup job, according to Evan Sidery. Sidery reports that Richardson has been moved to third string behind starter Daniel Jones and Leonard after an uneven start to training camp. The former No. 4 overall pick has flashed his trademark arm strength, but ball security continues to be an issue, including several mishandled snaps and an interception during recent practices. Richardson's trade request also remains in place after Indianapolis was unable to find a deal during the offseason. He has made only 15 starts through three NFL seasons, completing 50.6% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. If Leonard continues to pull ahead in the QB2 competition, a trade may offer Richardson his best chance to find another opportunity and rebuild his fantasy value.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (hamstring) is not practicing on Saturday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Giddens has not practiced since last Sunday and has reportedly struggled to stand out at training camp. In 2025, Giddens had just 26 carries for 96 yards in nine games and had no receptions. Meanwhile, rookie Seth McGowan has shown more flash as a runner and has been compared to David Montgomery. He has begun to separate himself from Giddens as the clear RB2 in Indianapolis behind the newly paid Jonathan Taylor. If Giddens can't recover quickly enough from his hamstring injury, he will likely fall off the fantasy radar in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is not practicing on Saturday due to a groin injury sustained during training camp last week. The fourth-year receiver is eyeing a breakout season, with many vacated targets after veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still on the PUP list and the next-best wide receivers on the roster, Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the Colts need Downs to be healthy and produce in 2026. While it doesn't sound like a major injury, fantasy managers should monitor Downs' status over the next few weeks.