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[Indianapolis Colts]

Execs, coaches, scouts rank Indianapolis Colts Jonathan Taylor among NFL’s best RBs for 2025

Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jonathan Taylor drops out of the Top 5 but remains in the Top 10.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Indianapolis Colts veteran running back Jonathan Taylor once again cracked the NFL’s top 10 running backs in an annual survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts—at the 7th overall spot:

7. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: unranked

Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 5

Taylor’s dropping two spots from last season is a curious case. He pumped out 1,432 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 despite uneven quarterback play. His speed is still elite. He turned 26 in January. And he’s the first back since Adrian Peterson (2007-11) to produce 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns through his first five NFL seasons.

While his contract dispute in 2023 stalled momentum, he has never underwhelmed when playing a full season.

“He’s underrated,” an AFC executive said. “Highly productive and can wear you down before breaking off a big run.”

Taylor’s 24 games of 100 rushing yards since 2020 trail only Henry’s 37.

Despite missing three games in 2024 due to a high ankle sprain early in the season, Jonathan Taylor returned to form à la his 2021 All-Pro first-team campaign.

In just 13 starts, Taylor totaled 1,567 yards from scrimmage (1,431 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards) and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, 1 receiving).

Taylor missed out on an All-Pro nod but claimed his first Pro Bowl honor since the aforementioned career-high season a few years back. It was the second and only time since his sophomore season in the NFL when Taylor averaged 100+ rushing yards per game.

Staying healthy for at least the majority of this past season is what catapulted Taylor back into the mix of top running backs around the league. Given that each season since his illustrious 2021 season has been marred by contract disputes and injuries, imagining what Taylor could do in a full season is intriguing, to say the least.

Regardless, this collective nod from various executives, coaches, and scouts around the league is well-earned national recognition for the 26-year-old running back who is hungry for another All-Pro award.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...-jonathan-taylor-among-nfls-best-rbs-for-2025

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Three reasons why the Colts will win the AFC South

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Here is how they get the job done.

The AFC south used to run through the Indianapolis Colts. Anyone who wanted it had to pry it from their hands. Sometimes it was so solidified that the crown already belonged to the Colts with a third of the season left. It was pure domination. Nowadays, that couldn’t be farther from the truth as the Colts haven’t won the division since 2014. It has been a horrific drought, but there are few ways the Colts can get back on top in 2025.

Quarterback Play​

Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones needs to step up in a major way for the Colts to have a chance. Whichever quarterback is given the keys, they need to excel. That means Richardson pulling his completion percentage out of the basement and maximizing his athleticism to reach new heights. If Jones is the man, it means a reclamation project akin to what the Vikings witnessed with Sam Darnold. A new situation for Jones could be enough to shine.

Anarumo’s Defense​

New coordinator, who dis? If Lou Anarumo can bring the defensive intensity and deceptiveness that he displayed in his greatest years with the Bengals, the Colts have a chance to be really good on that side of the ball. Deforest Buckner and the line return to strength, while the revamped secondary finds its legs by shutting down receivers and creating turnovers. Punishing quarterbacks and creating short fields for the offense is a recipe for success.

Shane Steichen​

Shane Steichen worked absolute magic with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. It seemed that pairing him with Richardson could be a perfect match. So far, Steichen has looked more equipped to prepare Gardner Minshew for success than Richardson. If he continues to work on finding Richardson opportunities to use his legs and develops his passing ability while creatively using weapons like Josh Downs and Tyler Warren, the offense could click. Steichen flexing his brilliance could be enough to secure several wins by itself.

The ingredients are there for the Colts to end the drought. Ingredients aren’t enough however. They need to be prepared and assembled with correct timing. All of these things need to come together at once to create the ultimate dish. Both sides of the ball need to improve to be at home to start the postseason. It won’t be easy, but follow this outline, and the Colts will be back on top.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7/11/24465485/three-reasons-why-the-colts-will-win-the-afc-south

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

JuJu Brents and fans are hoping he can stay healthy for the Colts in 2025

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Injuries have been the story so far, but there is still time to write the ending.

What is better than a hometown kid playing for the city’s professional team? George Hill did it for the Pacers, and JuJu Brent is doing it for the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Expectations were high for the Warren Central product as the hope was he could be a missing piece to shore up the secondary. Hopes are still high but injuries are causing frustrations for fans and especially Brents. Everyone is wanting 2025 to be a fresh start and the beginning of a healthy stretch.

A healthy stretch would certainly buck a trend that has established itself over Brents’ first two seasons. Brents started his career with a wrist injury which made him miss valuable time as a rookie and later, suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to missed portions of training camp and the start of the season. After missing the first two games to start 2023, Brents flashed some potential. It was looking like the storm had passed. Unfortunately, a quadriceps injury caused him to miss additional action. To top it all off, another hamstring injury occurred in week 18.

It was a brutal start to a career, yet somehow his sophomore season went even worse. It only took a portion of one game to sustain a knee injury that cost him the rest of the season minus week 18. The hand wringing over his future is impossible to avoid, but if Brents can stay healthy he has a wonderful opportunity to earn a starting role opposite Ward. There will be competition, and Chris Ballard has said he openly welcomes just that this year. Any playing time will have to be earned. If Brents can get on and stay on the field, the feeling is he will shine and show why he was a second round pick.

Fans are in JuJu Brent’s corner. Hometown kid or not, watching a young player struggle through injuries makes for a story and player that anyone can get behind. Brents could be the key to things clicking in the secondary. Pairing him with the current slotted starters would make this secondary formidable. With so much time between now and the start of the season, all fans can do is wish Brents good health and good luck.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...ing-he-can-stay-healthy-for-the-colts-in-2025

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts close out Top 10 of PFF’s best NFL secondaries ahead of 2025 season

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The Colts have a Top 10 secondary headed into the 2025 campaign—if you ask PFF.

According to PFF, the Indianapolis Colts have the NFL’s 10th best secondary headed into the 2025 league campaign:

10. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are expecting bounce-back seasons from free-agent additions cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum. Ward had consistently graded as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks before a down year in 2024, while Bynum has proven capable of steady play at the pro level. Cornerbacks Jaylon Jones and Kenny Moore return as dependable contributors, and safety Nick Cross posted a 70.3 grade in his first season as a full-time starter.

With the arrival of new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Colts wasted no time adding much needed talent to their depleted secondary. The Colts inked both safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward to lucrative multi-year deals within the first wave of this year’s free agency.

Bynum brings a high football IQ, ball skills, and dependability to the backend of the Colts secondary, while Ward brings a tenacious, sure tackling bona fide #1 cornerback, the likes which the Horseshoe hasn’t seen since the late great Vontae Davis—who was a Pro Bowler for Indianapolis from 2014-15.

Jaylon Jones has been a very pleasant find for the Colts, as the former 2023 7th round pick has developed into a solid outside starting caliber cornerback—with 2 interceptions and a forced fumble last year during his second pro season.

Samuel Womack III, who the Colts claimed off waivers last year, was a revelation this past season, keeping the Indy cornerback room afloat despite a number of key injuries at the position. He projects as the team’s top depth at cornerback—along with former 2023 2nd round pick, JuJu Brents, who remains talented, but has also been oft-injured to-date.

Lastly, Kenny Moore II remains one of the best veteran slot cornerbacks in all of football.

It’s not hard to see why the Colts secondary unit narrowly cracked PFF’s Top 10 best.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...ffs-best-nfl-secondaries-ahead-of-2025-season

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

CBS Sports projects Daniel Jones to best Anthony Richardson for Colts’ QB1 job

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This QB competition has barely begun, but there may be an early favorite per at least one national media member.

According to CBS Sports Jeff Kerr, Indianapolis Colts’ new veteran free agent addition Daniel Jones will eventually beat out 3rd-year pro Anthony Richardson for the team’s open starting quarterback job:

Jones will beat out Anthony Richardson for Colts QB job

Overreaction or reality: Reality

The AC joint injury Richardson suffered in minicamp is concerning, especially considering this injury is in the same shoulder that required surgery and sidelined Richardson for most of his rookie season in 2023. Richardson has been injured and inconsistent since entering the NFL, and will have to prove he’ll be healthy in training camp before winning a competition.

Jones usually flashes in minicamp and training camp, so he certainly could stampede ahead of Richardson in the quarterback competition. While Jones has a questionable track record regarding injuries as well, he’s more accurate than Richardson and gets a fresh start behind a significantly better offensive line than the one he had in New York.

Richardson needs to take command of the offense this summer, or he will be watching Jones start Week 1. His shoulder injury may give Jones the job, especially if Jones impresses with the first team while Richardson is on the mend.

With Richardson being shut down in this offseason’s OTAs, and subsequently not participating in veteran minicamp, as a result of resting a sore surgically repaired right throwing shoulder, Jones arguably has an early lead in the Colts’ open QB1 competition.

That being said, this will be Richardson’s third-year playing in offensive minded head coach Shane Steichen’s system and playbook, so he may have a leg up from that standpoint—as Jones has had a few months not years, to acclimate to his newest NFL offense.

Between the two challengers, one could make the case that Jones should theoretically shine in the Colts training camp practices and through simulated drills—as he’s arguably the more accurate of the two quarterbacks and more likely to checkdown for completions.

Richardson’s latest injury update is no doubt concerning, as he’s more than a year removed from the surgery—and this go around, prolonged soreness may not have been expected.

However, I also believe that his premature demise in this open quarterback competition may be initially exaggerated—if fully healthy again. Richardson made significant strides down last season’s stretch, both on and off the field, leading the Colts to a few game-winning drives—albeit against some of the league’s weaker competition.

If he can improve his accuracy a bit, he’s the more intriguing option of the two players.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...-to-best-anthony-richardson-for-colts-qb1-job

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

CBS Sports ranks Colts’ Shane Steichen in bottom third of NFL head coaches before 2025 season

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As a glass half full guy, that means there’s clear room for improvement for the Colts third-year head coach.

According to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen is currently in the bottom third of NFL head coaches before the 2025 season, coming in at just 22nd overall:

22. Shane Steichen (Colts)

2024 Rank: 19

Season: 3rd with Colts, 3rd as coach

Career record: 17-17 | Playoffs: N/A

Is he to be blamed or credited for cycling through quarterbacks like plenty of his Colts predecessors? Steichen can call an offense, as he once proved beautifully with the Eagles, but leaning upon Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones spells trouble.

For what it’s worth, Steichen slid three spots from CBS Sports’ ranking last offseason.

Entering his third NFL season as Colts head coach, the 40-year-old head coach has compiled exactly a .500 career coaching record through his first two seasons in Indianapolis at 17-17. He has failed to make the playoffs both seasons.

Steichen looked like a rookie phenom his debut head coaching year in 2023, seemingly calling all the right plays and almost narrowly leading the Colts to a surprise playoff berth—despite opening day starter Anthony Richardson missing 13 games collectively.

His seemingly impressive ability to coach all kinds of quarterbacks, no matter their playing style, really showed, as under his tutelage, former Colts backup Gardner Minshew earned his first career Pro Bowl nod starting in extended relief of Richardson that season.

However, Steichen seemingly regressed a bit during his 2nd year for the Colts a season later.

Not only did Steichen surprisingly fail to initially deploy the offensive play-calling that best utilized his young dual-threat quarterback’s skill-set in 2024, but he seemed to struggle at times handling the accountability of the players in his locker room—and perhaps even worse, dealing publicly with those same issues regarding members of the the media.

That being said, Steichen still remains a gifted young offensive mind and playcaller in my eyes, but there are both internal clubhouse matters and public facing items that he needs to improve upon entering his third season as Colts head coach. A lot of times it’s those things like maintaining leadership, accountability, and how to properly handle the media that separate great coordinators from being potentially great head coaches.

It’s also fair to say that while Steichen assuredly played a role in the Colts selecting Richardson with the 4th overall pick back in the 2023 NFL Draft, he can’t be blamed for the 3rd-year quarterback’s so far lack of consistent availability as the starter—unless you count Steichen’s reportedly mandated two-game benching last year.

It’s hard to make the playoffs in the NFL when you don’t have a consistent starting quarterback—even for a talented offensive head coach like Steichen. It’s shown so far.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...-third-of-nfl-head-coaches-before-2025-season

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts most revamped units listed among PFF’s top 10 position groups

Indianapolis Colts safety Camryn Bynum (0) walks up the field Tuesday, June 10, 2025, during NFL Colts mandatory mini camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last season, the Colts ranked among the bottom five defenses in total yards allowed per game (361.2), pass yards per play (7.1), and opponent’s third down conversion rate (44%). Colts GM Chris Ballard confessed he needed to identify the right free agents to move the needle on a franchise that was “not close” to championship contention.

Pro Football Focus listed the Indianapolis Colts’ two most revamped units, including the offensive line and secondary, among the best position units in the league.

It all starts with the staple that defines the Colts identity, which is a bruising, relentless rushing attack behind the NFL’s fifth-best offensive line. The Colts’ o-line features five-time All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson, who graded among the top five guards across the board, according to PFF. Fourth-year left tackle Bernhard Raimann enters a pivotal contract season with intentions to make a statement and secure the long-term contract. Raimann’s 90.7 run block grade ranked fifth among all qualified tackles last season. One veteran NFL scout recently mentioned Raimann on a recent ESPN survey, anonymously stating “he started slowly but has continued to improve and was really good last year”, evidenced best by his 85.1 overall grade, which was the best score from any Colts player in 2024.

Some O-line for your timeline. pic.twitter.com/zgyt1d4cEq

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 7, 2025​

Last season, the Colts ranked among the bottom five defenses in total yards allowed per game (361.2), pass yards allowed per play (7.1), and opponent’s third down conversion rate (44%). Colts GM Chris Ballard confessed he needed to identify the right free agents to move the needle on a franchise that was “not close” to championship contention.

Indianapolis sought a new direction and hired veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and vastly improved its No. 10 ranked secondary with the long-term signings of safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. With three years of experience as a starter in Minnesota, Bynum was an essential upgrade after the Colts decided not to retain safety Julian Blackmon. Bynum played over 90% of the Vikings defensive snaps last season and has logged over 1,000 defensive snaps in each of the last three seasons. He is a durable, versatile, centerfielder to cover the deep zones for the Colts.

The most underrated secondary in the NFL going into 2025 is the Colts

CB1: Charvarius Ward
CB2: Jaylon Jones
Slot: Kenny Moore
FS: Cam Bynum
SS: Nick Cross
Depth: Sam Womack, Juju Brents, Justin Walley

Was already a solid young group, and now they get all-pro CB1 potential with… pic.twitter.com/cFfflWJuSK

— Nico (@elitetakes_) July 6, 2025​

The Colts made bold decisions this offseason to land a top-tier free agent and No. 1 outside cornerback when signing Ward, who brings a full season-length of playoff experience under his belt. Ward is an eighth-year veteran with 89 career starts and he’s just one year removed from earning Second-Team All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 23 pass deflections in 2023. Kenny Moore II and Nick Cross are returning veterans who both led the Colts with three interceptions last season. Third-year cornerback Jaylon Jones has started each of the last 27 games through his first two seasons with the Colts.

Free agency departures, injuries and mental health scares often make depth a necessity. The Colts continued to bolster the depth after selecting cornerback Justin Walley out of Minnesota in the third round and massive tackle Jordan Travis out of Iowa State in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Walley will be one of the players to watch at training camp to discover how Anarumo utilizes him in his mix of different coverages. At 6-foot-7, 339-pounds, Travis is the heaviest player listed on the roster as a rookie.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...units-listed-among-pff-top-10-position-groups

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Zaire Franklin receives ‘honorable mention’ in ESPN’s annual league survey of top LBs

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Colts Zaire Franklin received a noteworthy tip of the helmet from ESPN’s annual league survey at linebacker.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, while he wasn’t chosen among the top ten players at his position, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin received an honorable mention ahead of the 2025 campaign, per an annual league survey:

Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts: ”Blue collar, ultimate motor guy that can get a lot of tackles and set a good tone. Not dynamic as far as playmaking in the open field or the backfield.” — NFC executive

The results of the league survey are taken from NFL coaches, executives, and scouts alike and published by ESPN’s Fowler every offseason annually.

Having been named to an NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the first time in his career during 2024, it’s a little surprising for Franklin to not crack the bottom of the Top 10.

Most notably, he led the league in combined tackles (173) last year.

That being said, he had a very slow start to begin this past season and racking up a bunch of tackles on a below average defense collectively doesn’t necessarily make you a star player out there.

It wasn’t that long ago that veteran linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was named a Pro Bowler for the Colts back in 2014 for similar reasons, despite clearly being a bit long in the tooth.

It’s nice to have a knack for finding the football, but it’s also not everything at the position.

However, Franklin did play better football down the 2024 season’s final stretch run, and the defensive team captain for Indianapolis is looking to salvage his public reputation a bit—having arguably spent too much time trash talking on his podcast, but not always backing it up out there on the field in proper order.

It’s fair to say that Franklin, when really going right, is one of the better off-the-ball starting linebackers in all of football—even if he lacks some of the dynamic playmaking of another former Indianapolis All-Pro linebacker (and ex-teammate) Darius ‘Shaquille’ Leonard.

For Franklin, he’s been a great story going from 7th round pick to special teams standout to starter to an All-Pro linebacker, but some of that success may have arguably gotten to his head this past season—and he may need to return to the ’grinding’ and ‘junkyard dog’ mentality that initially made him special and a fan favorite in Indianapolis.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...tion-in-espns-annual-league-survey-of-top-lbs

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts earn ESPY’s 2025 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for ‘Kicking the Stigma’

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The Colts organization earned an accolade to be proud of off-the field... making an impact in every day Hoosiers’ lives and society at-large for something that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.

The Indianapolis Colts organization was awarded the ESPY’s 2025 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for their ‘Kicking the Stigma’ initiative which raises awareness and fundraising for mental health disorders and combats the stigmas associated with them.

The award was presented to Colts’ owner and chief brand officer and president of the Indianapolis Colts foundation Kalen Jackson by former Horseshoe All-Pro punter, now turned mainstream ESPN media personality Pat McAfee:

Thank you so much for this recognition. My dad is smiling down thank you @PatMcAfeeShow for presenting our award tonight https://t.co/fOl8v5bHs0

— Kalen Jackson (@KalenIJackson) July 16, 2025​

Regarding ‘Kicking The Stigma’ and this recent award via Colts.com:

“Over the last five years, Kicking The Stigma has made a deep, targeted, positive impact on the mental health of countless Hoosiers and Americans. Since 2020, more than $31 million has been committed to these goals by the Colts and Irsay family through Kicking The Stigma, including over $6.4 million in Action Grants, which have funded critical research and treatments while breaking down barriers to access them for residents of Indiana and beyond.”

Among the Colts, the finalists were also the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Yankees. The Horseshoe had been a finalist for the past three years.

The Colts are the first professional sports franchise to earn this award for a mental health initiative and become the third NFL team to win the honor—joining the Denver Broncos (2022) and San Francisco 49ers (2017).

The award was created a decade ago and is given out annually. Congrats to the Colts!

Beyond honored to be the recipient of this year's Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award! #KickingTheStigma pic.twitter.com/CuwJNV4XX6

— Kicking The Stigma (@KickingStigma) July 16, 2025​

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...arian-team-of-the-year-for-kicking-the-stigma

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Is Colts’ Shane Steichen a bottom third of the league coach?

Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images

CBS Sports ranks him there. Do you?

What to make of Shane Steichen...

He is a difficult one to fully pin down because there isn’t a ton of data on him as a head coach, yet what we do have to judge of his tenure has been rocky at best. Coming into 2025, his record is a smooth .500 (17-17), and while that isn’t terrible, it isn’t great either. CBS Sports has Steichen in the bottom third of NFL coaches, slipping a bit from last year from 19th to 22nd. That is their ranking. The question is whether or not that feels accurate.

Let’s start with the highest ranked coaches per CBS Sports in order: Reid, McVay, Harbaugh (John), Sirianni, and Campbell. With the exception of Campbell, all of those coaches have won a Super Bowl, and Campbell has at least built Detroit into a juggernaut. It is plain to see that Steichen is not part of that upper echelon, and most fans wouldn’t, or couldn’t, even attempt to make the argument he is deserving of such a rank.

Colts fans have to look further down the list to find their coach as he is nestled in the “Unproven or underwhelming” group. Hard to say which category Steichen falls under, but he is starting to tilt towards the underwhelming. Yes, he is still relatively new to his role, and the cards he was dealt haven’t been the best. Losing your rookie quarterback a few games into the season is a tough way to start, but he made the adjustment to Gardner Minshew quite well. The Colts got to within a play or two of making the playoffs with a major mid-season adjustment.

That run was so encouraging that one couldn’t help but imagine what he could do with a fully healthy Anthony Richardson. Although that isn’t exactly what he got in 2024, the results left something to be desired. The creativity and utilization of Richardson’s full ability appeared to be lacking. Additionally, and more concerning, was his handling of the locker room. With Richardson “tapping out” of the Houston game and Steichen’s subsequent mishandling of that situation to the lack of leadership and accountability from the veterans that created a clash of egos, it seems as though Steichen may not have as much of a grip on his team as required by a head coach. That is something he is going to have to improve and regain in year three.

Shane Steichen being lower middle seems about right. He hasn’t done enough to be considered more than that, yet at the same time, he isn’t necessarily circling the drain either. Just like young players, he still has time to make adjustments and improve. Year three will be huge for him. Fail to put it all together and the calls for his replacement will grow. Find consistency that leads to success and watch his ranking climb.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...e-steichen-a-bottom-third-of-the-league-coach

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Report: Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. ‘has resumed throwing’ ahead of training camp

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The Colts’ third-year quarterback appears to be in a good place with his right shoulder soreness.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. “has resumed throwing,” according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Stephen Holder was the first to report the news.

#Colts QB Anthony Richardson has resumed throwing, sources confirm to @TheAthleticNFL.

Richardson was shut down May 29 due to what Indy HC Shane Steichen called “aggravation” to the surgically repaired AC joint in his throwing shoulder. @HolderStephen first.

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 17, 2025​

With the Colts set to return to training camp next week, this is an important step in the right direction for Richardson. A few weeks back, Richardson himself said he would be ready for training camp, as he told Zach Goodall of for Swamp 24/7 (Florida University’s branch of 24/7 Sports) for CBS Sports.

The third-year quarterback was initially sidelined for much of the team’s spring training period after suffering and dealing with soreness in his right throwing shoulder. The soreness appeared to be a minor setback from the original AC joint procedure Richardson underwent during his rookie season in 2023.

Richardson’s return to camp may not come right away, however. According to Holder’s report, “It remains possible Richardson could be on a so-called pitch count early in camp to allow him to ramp up and avoid fatigue. That will ultimately be decided by the Colts’ medical staff.”

It’s also important to note that “the Colts have not had a chance to personally evaluate Richardson because players have been on their summer breaks. That will happen when Richardson returns to Indianapolis for training camp next week. Players are required to report by Tuesday,” according to Holder.

Due to the setback, Richardson hasn’t had much of an opportunity to participate in the quarterback competition between he and Daniel Jones, whom the Colts signed to a one-year, $14 million deal earlier this offseason.

The former No. 4 overall pick regressed significantly from what the team had seen during his rookie season, completing only 47.7% of his passes during his second season, which ranked last amongst all other quarterbacks in 2024. Based on several reports, though, Richardson had been making progress in working on his throwing mechanics this offseason.

With training camp around the corner for the team, it’ll be Richardson’s first real chance at earning the Colts’ starting quarterback job. In such a critical Year 3, Richardson will need to make significant strides in the right direction and prove to the Colts organization that he can be their long-term answer at the position.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...r-has-resumed-throwing-ahead-of-training-camp

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Upcoming Colts training camp positional battle to watch: Will Linebacker

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The Colts have a handful of training camp positional battles to watch.

The Indianapolis Colts have a handful of positional battles to watch for, and we’ll cover the starting will linebacker spot today.

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Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Favorite: Jaylon Carlies​

Having seen starting linebacker E.J. Speed depart to the Houston Texans in free agency, the Colts figure to turn to favorite, 2nd-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies, to start this season at the first-team defense spot adjacent to NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin.

At 6’3,” 227 pounds, the former 2024 5th round pick of the Colts flashed as rookie for the Colts in subpackage duty as a coverage linebacker. His PFF +83.1 coverage grade this past season would’ve been the 3rd highest among all players at his position respectively—had he qualified in total snaps count.

Granted, it was in limited action, but it was an encouraging start to Carlies’ pro career.

Carlies had 36 tackles, a pass defensed, and a sack during his debut pro campaign.

If there’s one question mark, Carlies missed 7 games as a rookie and is coming off an offseason shoulder surgery, but is expected to be fully ready for training camp.

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Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Challenger - Segun Olubi​

The former undrafted free agent of the San Francisco 49ers has spent the past three seasons with the Colts, playing pretty well as a rotational backup and in spot duty when called upon in limited action.

He played in 17 games for the Colts this past season, recording 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. He’s appeared in 34 career games for Indy, making 2 starts during his first three seasons in the league.

Per PFF, Olubi received a +86.4 overall grade, which would’ve been the 5th best among all NFL linebackers—had he qualified in total snaps. It was highlighted by a +92.6 run defense grade, where he clearly made his presence felt.

It’s possible we see a bit of a platoon at the Will spot this upcoming season, with Carlies predominantly handling the coverage snaps, and Olubi playing situationally versus the run.

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Verdict - Jaylon Carlies​

With new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looking to swap out a third linebacker for an extra defensive back in more of the Colts base defense packages, and it makes sense that he may also prefer a more coverage-oriented linebacker out there.

That predominantly screams Carlies, but Olubi should get his fair share of opportunities on early, run defense, and short yardage downs.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...mp-positional-battle-to-watch-will-linebacker

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts fans need something more than a ‘Richardson resumes throwing’ headline

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Richardson is throwing again...

The big news out of Colts world is that Anthony Richardson has resumed throwing. That report comes from Stephen Holder of ESPN in which he states that, although Richardson could be on a pitch count to start training camp, everything appears to look good. On one hand, that is good news. The alternative is that Richardson faced another setback and won’t be ready for the start of camp. That would have been a disastrous update and would have felt like we would never get off this roller coaster. So, sure, it could be much worse, but is this the bar now? Is this the level at which we shout for joy? This seems to be setting an extremely low standard.

Peyton Manning chased records during his time with the Colts. I understand Manning is in his own league and not an overly fair comparison, but it was the standard that was set. It was the only standard I knew growing up watching Colts football. Andrew Luck was one of the greatest college prospects. We saw him come into the league and drag that roster to the playoffs his first year. Colts fans have been spoiled, especially at the quarterback position. The last decade or so has been rough, so this must be the law of averages catching up. Perhaps we have to continue to pay the piper to balance the scales.

Look, I am a Richardson guy. I like him, want him to be the starting quarterback this year, and want him to succeed. This is not a dig at Richardson the person or really even the player. This is commentary on whether this is the new standard that should get Colts fans jazzed. He has been shut down for a month and a half after the lightest of duties. He has missed more time than he has played. Him being ready to throw and heading into training camp is a big deal, but it shouldn’t be. This shouldn’t be the story heading into year three after what we have witnessed over the first two years. The story lines have changed from “can the Colts win the Super Bowl” to “Richardson resumes throwing”... This seems like falling off a cliff.

Hit me with your best shot in the comments, but doesn’t it feel like we are in a totally new era of Colts football? Once again, we were spoiled. Having Luck right after Manning is the thing of dreams. That level of competency at the quarterback position is rarefied air. Anthony Richardson resuming throwing after a fifty day absence just doesn’t do enough for me. Richardson and the Colts need to elevate the headlines this season by giving us positives on the field to talk about. They will have plenty of opportunities. Let’s see if they can get this franchise back on track.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...e-than-a-richardson-resumes-throwing-headline

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Report: Colts agree to rookie contract with 2nd round DE J.T. Tuimoloau

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

All eight players of the Colts’ 2025 NFL Draft class have inked their rookie deals ahead of training camp kicking off next week.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a rookie contract with recent 2nd round pick J.T. Tuimoloau, meaning that all members of their 2025 draft class are now safely signed ahead of team training camp:

The #Colts have agreed to terms with their second-round pick J.T. Tuimoloau, the defensive end from Ohio State, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Another second-rounder in the books in a deal done by @RyanWilliamsA1 of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/LZbBNtMjXx

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 18, 2025​

The Colts drafted Tuimoloau with the 45th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

There’s been a slew of 2nd round picks that have been signed in recent days, as NFL teams gear up next week for the official kickoff of their training camps.

The Colts’ camp report date for rookies is July 21st, with veterans reporting a day later.

For the 2024 CFP National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, the senior defensive lineman, Tuimoloau, recorded 61 tackles (35 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles during 16 starts this past season.

He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors for the third straight season.

With the departure of free agent defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo to the Chicago Bears in free agency, Tuimoloau projects to play a big role in helping to replace a lot of that lost versatility—particularly with his ability to pass rush both inside and out.

Bigger picture, Colts veteran defensive end Samson Ebukam (30) is coming off a season-ending torn Achilles, and both he and fellow projected starter Kwity Paye (26), a former 2021 first round pick of Indianapolis, are entering a contract year in 2025 respectively.

This means that Tuimoloau could not only play a key rotational role now—as impact depth, but potentially become a long-term starter fairly soon.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...gree-to-rookie-contract-with-de-j-t-tuimoloau

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ website offers fans four part podcast in lead up to training camp

Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images

Here is a little something to get you by.

The dog days of summer. We are in them. They are hot and when it comes to news pertaining to the Indianapolis Colts, they can be dull. Not a whole lot is going on with the team or league in general as media outlets are looking to fill the time between now and the start of training camp. We are nearing the beginning of camp so news, reports, and updates will soon be fast and furious. Until then? Well, there may be one thing to help bridge the gap.

Colts.com has put together a four part podcast series focusing on the Colts moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis. The general outline of the story is well known by the people of Baltimore and Indianapolis, but the podcast offers a deeper dive. Four episodes at roughly an hour apiece tells the story of how and why the Colts left Baltimore. Jim Irsay, Rick Venturi, and so many others from Colts lore and days of old offer their memories, perspective, and thoughts on one of the most notorious and monumental moves in sports history.

The city of Baltimore tried as hard has possible to keep the Colts in town by attempting to use eminent domain which provides context as to why the team sneakily moved in the middle of the night. The Mayflower moving vans have been played on repeat to document the move, but there is so much more to it. Baltimore fans still have disdain for the Colts even though they essentially stole a NFL franchise from Cleveland which they fail to mention. Regardless, the whole story, no matter how you perceive it, is told over four parts on the Colts official website.

If you enjoy podcasts, the Colts, or need something to fill in the gaps between now and the start of the season, this could be the perfect thing. With so much analysis there is sure to be something that even the most diehard and informed fans have never heard before. Check it out to get ready to start the 2025 season.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...four-part-podcast-in-lead-up-to-training-camp

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

How the Colts spend their money

Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Which positions do the Colts spend the most money on?

The salary cap has become arguably the number one most important thing that a front office has to manage. It is one thing to acquire talent, which is the most difficult thing to do, but managing a salary cap and ensuring that you keep the best talent on the roster has become the most important thing in today’s NFL.

How do the Colts split up their money? Where do they spend more than other teams and is the money well spent or poorly spent?

The tables below will go by annual average value, as it’s a more accurate representation of how they spend their money whereas cap hit differs greatly year to year, so it doesn’t give you a better picture.

Figures courtesy of Spotrac and Over the Cap

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Quarterbacks​

Total Amount Spent: $24.40M

Percentage: 8.3%

League Median Average: $46.10M

League Rank: 21st

Unsurprisingly, the Colts are below the league average in terms of quarterback spending as they have one on a rookie contract and his competition on a cheap prove-it deal at $14M. When teams find their guy, they pay them handsomely and the Colts have not found their guy yet, so the low amount makes sense.

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Running Backs​

Total Amount Spent: $19.68M

Percentage: 6.41%

League Median Average: $13.80M

League Rank: 4th

The Colts rank amongst the highest in the NFL for money spent on running backs with the contract of Jonathan Taylor. Since running back money spending is purely dependent on the #1 guy, when teams have a true star running back, they’ll throw big money at him. The Colts have a star in Jonathan Taylor and made him one of the highest paid running backs in the league.

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Wide Receivers​

Total Amount Spent: $39.64M

Percentage: 12.80%

League Median Average: $41.65M

League Rank: 18th

The Colts spent a lot of money on Michael Pittman Jr, who has been underwhelming since he signed his new contract. Luckily, the Colts have two good receivers in Josh Downs and Alec Pierce who are still on rookie deals, which puts the team below the league average. So overall, you could argue the return on investment is good as this unit is likely better than 18th in the league, but I would still argue that the Pittman contract, to this point, has been a bad one.

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Tight Ends​

Total Amount Spent: $13.11M

Percentage: 4.23%

League Median Average: $17.02M

League Rank: 20th

The tight end group was arguably the worst in the entire NFL, but the addition of Tyler Warren could make them a top 10 unit by year’s end. So while it’s tough to evaluate this unit with the arrival of Warren, up to this point, this group has been so poor that it’s clear the money is not being spent well, even if it’s a small amount. It has been neglected and it’s obvious.

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Offensive Line​

Total Amount Spent: $52.16M

Percentage: 16.84%

League Median Average: $58.84M

League Rank: 18th

The Colts offensive line has been one of the more consistently good units in the NFL over the past few seasons, led by Quenton Nelson. The rise of Bernhard Raimann has also been key in their good play. The team is introducing two new faces to the starting unit next season, both of whom are on rookie deals, so those contracts help keep the Colts below the league average. Nevertheless, the Colts get tremendous value from their offensive line, which you could argue is a top 10 unit. So spending the 18th most for a top 10 unit is great value, however, the new starters do create some questions.

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Defensive Line​

Total Amount Spent: $66.73M

Percentage: 21.55%

League Median Average: $60.56M

League Rank: 10th

The Colts have built themselves a quality defensive line over the years, led by DeForest Buckner, who the Colts gave a big contract on top of using draft capital to get him. He has been a real star and the backbone of the defense. Grover Stewart has been a great complimentary player to Buckner and he was given a fair contract last season. Those two lead the way in terms of defensive line spending. Behind them are Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam, two players who have failed to live up to their contracts for different reasons. Paye is wildly inconsistent and Ebukam dealt with an Achilles injury. Overall, there’s an argument for the Colts defensive line being a top 10 unit, but there are definitely some inefficiencies in their spending.

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Linebackers​

Total Amount Spent: $19.35M

Percentage: 6.25%

League Median Average: $37.37M

League Rank: 28th

Linebackers’ value in the NFL is not what it used to be, and the Colts don’t put a lot of money into this unit. Nevertheless, while I don’t believe Zaire Franklin is an All Pro, he is definitely a quality starter and keeps this group’s head above water. Considering his cap hit is $7.5M and he’s due just over 6M in cash, it’s hard to argue that he’s not a valuable player for the Colts. Him alone gives the team a good return on their small investment in the group.

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Secondary​

Total Amount Spent: $60.37M

Percentage: 19.49%

League Average: $51.22M

League Rank: 8th

The Colts’ secondary has been a pitiful unit over the past few years, and was one of the groups that Colts did not spend much money on. This past offseason, Ballard and the front office made big investments in this unit, mostly on Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum, so this group jumped into the top 10 in the NFL. It’s tough to evaluate whether the money is being spent efficiently when the two big new pieces haven’t played a snap yet, but Chris Ballard has finally thrown money at one of the biggest problems on the Colts over the past few seasons.

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Overall Team Analysis​

Overall, the Colts are pretty efficient in their spending, getting good returns on investment in many groups and never getting terrible value in any. The front office took some big steps this past offseason, throwing big money at their weakest position and based on their spending history, they should get good returns from those big money free agents.

What’s unfortunate is that the lack of quality play at the quarterback spot has overshadowed all the quality spending the front office has done. Their skill position players have a ton of talent and their spending ranks around average in the NFL, so that’s a good return. Their offensive line is clearly an above average unit in the NFL, but they spend less than the league average. The Colts’ front 7 is probably a top 10 unit in the league and they don’t spend a top 10 amount.

A team is driven by it’s quarterback and while the car’s performance is strong, the driver just isn’t up to par and hopefully that changes this season, otherwise the smart investing will once again be overshadowed.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7/19/24462313/how-the-colts-spend-their-money

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts Offseason Reacts Survey Results: Closer to Horseshoe Football

Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

So close, but still so far away...

We’re a week away from training camp officially kicking off next week, and rather than rehash the same topics over and over, I wanted to change the pace for this survey.

The Colts have a number of Pro Bowl caliber players currently on their roster, and more than the parameters of the poll allow as potential options.

That being said, among the ‘Pro Bowl’ group of DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, etc., who is your favorite Colts player right?

Well, 41% of the Horseshoe faithful went with perennial All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson, who just had another standout season and remains one of the team’s best players:

Honestly, I probably would’ve gone with Nelson in more recent seasons, but I actually pivoted a bit to DeForest Buckner for this one. Given his importance to the Colts defense—and consistently as its best player, and just the way he carries himself, it seemed right.

That being said, I don’t think anyone could’ve gone wrong with either of Big Q or D-Fo here.

Lastly, in order to avoid a bunch of Colts fans just voting for the Indianapolis franchise’s undisputed best player, Peyton Manning, I wanted to list non-QB offensive players who are beloved all-time among the Horseshoe faithful as potential options:

34% of Colts fans went with the best wideout in franchise history and NFL Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison, who was one of the best to ever do it in NFL history—pairing with Manning.

Like the poll above, I don’t think there’s a bad option, and honestly it would’ve been nice if I could’ve included some other great Colts player options such as Jeff Saturday, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Bob Sanders, Jack Doyle, Pat McAFee, etc.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...s-survey-results-closer-to-horseshoe-football

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Upcoming Colts training camp positional battle to watch: Starting Center

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Another Colts camp positional battle to take note of, this time at starting center.

The Indianapolis Colts are just a few days kicking off training camp, and one of the true positional battles is at an offensive line spot that hasn’t had an open starting competition in nearly close to a decade.

With longtime veteran Ryan Kelly departing to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, the Colts have their first vacancy at starting center in 9 NFL seasons.

There’s two top challengers to take note of in the competition outlined below:

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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Favorite: Tanor Bortolini​

When the Colts selected the ‘plug-and-play,’ polished Wisconsin center in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it felt like Bortolini was the ‘heir apparent’ to Kelly, who was entering a contract year last offseason. Bortolini sat behind the veteran center last season, waiting in the wings—although he did see 5 starts in unplanned relief of Kelly during the 2024 campaign.

In his limited rookie action, Bortolini played 348 total snaps at center, and 3 at left guard respectively. Per PFF, he earned a +65.1 overall grade, which indicates he held his own out there.

The Colts drafted ‘Bort’ to be the long-term successor at starting center to Kelly, and from that standpoint, he should be the frontrunner for the job to begin with.

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The Challenger: Danny Pinter ​

Among pleasant surprises for the Colts this past season, the former 2020 5th round pick of Indianapolis, Danny Pinter, had to be one of them.

Many fans may remember Pinter significantly struggling at right guard to start the 2022 season, replacing departed longtime veteran Mark Glowinski at that spot, before being benched.

Simply put, Pinter lacked the true size and playing strength to consistently play NFL guard.

After missing the 2023 season because of a season-ending broken ankle suffered in preseason, Pinter largely became an afterthought entering this past year.

While he was considered returning backup interior depth, he wasn’t expected to play with the first-team offense at all, as he was behind both Kelly and Bortolini at center, and both Will Fries and rookie Matt Goncalves at right guard respectively.

Still, the former local Ball State standout made the most of a surprising in-season opportunity because of injuries—as with both Kelly and Bortolini out at center, Pinter ended up starting 2 games in limited relief in the middle of the Indy offensive line.

Per PFF, Pinter recorded a +68.6 overall grade.

With Kelly gone, the Colts re-signed him to a 1-year, $1.668M contract earlier this offseason.

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Verdict - Tanor Bortolini​

This may be one of the more closer starting competitions in my mind, as I thought Pinter played pretty well when called upon last season—albeit in very limited action as a starter. That being said, the Colts have to be hoping that Bortolini ends up being the guy here and are going to be giving him the keys to the car at first. It will only be in the event that he falters, that Pinter potentially factors into the starting picture again. I don’t think he will, and athletically and from a strength standpoint, he offers more of an impact than Pinter.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...mp-positional-battle-to-watch-starting-center