| News |
|---|
|
Alec Pierce Alec Pierce Wants to test free agency
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 2:25 PM
Pierce said Wednesday on the Up & Adams show that he does not expect to re-sign with the Colts before the start of the legal tampering period on March 9, Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Indianapolis decided to assign the non-exclusive franchise tag to quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) rather than Pierce on Tuesday, positioning the wide receiver to hit free agency fresh off having posted a career-best 47-1,003-6 receiving line (84 targets) across 15 regular-season appearances in 2025. The 2022 second-round pick said he's "loved to play" with the Colts, which he called "a great organization," but stated that he's "earned the right to explore free agency and see what's out there." Previously, Pierce has expressed a desire to continue playing with Jones, but it remains to be seen whether it will be feasible for Indianapolis to extend competitive offers to both players. Jones will be able to negotiate with other teams this offseason, with the Colts retaining the right to match any offer he receives. |
|
Daniel Jones Daniel Jones Receives transition tag
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 2:06 PM
The Colts are extending Jones (Achilles) the transition tag Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The transition tag allots Jones a one-year, fully guaranteed $37.83 million salary for 2026 and allows him to negotiate with other teams, though Indianapolis retains the right to match any offer sheet. Jones carries a 6-to-8 month recovery timetable for surgery undergone mid-December to address a season-ending right Achilles tear, so he could be ready for the start of training camp in July. Across 13 regular-season appearances in 2025, his Colts debut, Jones completed 68.0 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards and a 19:8 TD:INT while also adding 45 carries for 164 yards and five scores. Jones was on pace for a definitive career year, though a fibula injury suffered Week 10 hampered his production even prior to his Achilles tear. Elsewhere at quarterback for Indianapolis, Anthony Richardson (eye) has requested and received permission to seek a trade. |
|
Anthony Richardson Anthony Richardson Requests to be traded
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 11:35 AM
Richardson (eye) has requested and received permission from the Colts to seek a trade, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Richardson, the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, has played a total of just 17 regular-season games across his tenure with Indianapolis, with injuries playing a significant role in the extent of his missed time. Last summer, the 2023 first-rounder lost his starting job to quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending injury midway through the 2025 campaign and was then replaced under center by free agent veteran Philip Rivers, with Richardson having been placed on IR due to a fractured orbital bone of his right eye suffered Oct. 12. While Richardson had his 21-day practice window opened down the stretch, he was not cleared to retake the field in time for the Colts' season finale. Richardson -- who Boyd relays has regained full vision in the affected eye -- has one year remaining on his rookie deal and at this stage, his best-case scenario could be to find a fresh start elsewhere in the league with a chance to compete for a starting gig in 2026. |
|
Alec Pierce Alec Pierce GM hopeful of new deal
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 6:32 PM
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Colts GM Chris Ballard said he's hopeful the team can re-sign Pierce before he becomes a free agent next month, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: "We've had great discussions about both of them," Ballard said of Pierce and fellow impending free agent Daniel Jones (Achilles). "We'll continue to work this week and see if we can get something done. It's been very positive. When both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out in the right way." Pierce had a career year during the 2025 campaign, posting career highs in targets (84), catches (47) and receiving yards (1,003), while producing six touchdowns. He's led the entire NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back years as one of the game's top downfield weapons. Pierce is one of the top free agents set to hit the market in March if the Colts are unable to hammer out a deal. |
|
Drew Ogletree Drew Ogletree Ends 2025 on IR
Fri, Feb 6, 2026, 4:20 PM
Ogletree finished his 2025 campaign with four receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown. The tight end suffered a neck injury in Week 17 against the 49ers that ended his season.
Analysis: Ogletree was a pivotal special-teams player for the Colts, logging 68 percent of snaps or better in every contest he played in until he suffered his neck injury. The 2022 sixth-round pick's injury came at an unfortunate time in his career, as the 27-year-old will enter 2026 as an unrestricted free agent coming off an injury. |
|
Anthony Gould Anthony Gould Season cut short by foot injury
Fri, Feb 6, 2026, 4:08 PM
Gould recorded two receptions for six receiving yards across 11 regular-season games with the Colts in 2025. He also recorded 647 yards on kick returns and 127 yards on punt returns.
Analysis: Gould missed six games over the course of the season, losing Week 9 and Week 10 to a knee injury before ultimately succumbing to a foot issue that forced him to miss the last four games of the regular season. The second-year receiver logged similar usage to his rookie year, with Week 7 against the Chargers marking a career high in offensive snaps with 38. Heading into year three, it remains to be seen if Gould can maintain his role as a kick and punt returner. |
|
Daniel Jones Daniel Jones Colts plan to re-sign pending UFA
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:33 PM
Colts GM Chris Ballard said in his season-ending news conference Thursday that the team intends to re-sign Jones (Achilles), who will be a free agent this offseason, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: "I think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here in Indianapolis," Ballard said, adding that the team views Jones as an option in both the short- and long-term. The Colts were on pace to set multiple franchise records on offense in the first half of the season while Jones was healthy, but Jones was slowed by a fibula injury for a few weeks before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jaguars. The Colts ultimately finished 8-9 after starting 8-2. There had been rumblings of extension negotiations between Jones and the Colts prior to his injury. Jones' injury will have an impact on those negotiations, but there remains mutual interest in Jones rejoining a quarterback room that's set to include 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson (eye) and 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard in 2026. |
|
DJ Giddens DJ Giddens Concludes quiet rookie season
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 11:12 AM
Giddens rushed eight times for 30 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with 26 rushes for 96 yards in nine appearances.
Analysis: Giddens's eight carries Sunday were his most in a contest since Week 1. The rookie running back barely saw the field in his first season in the NFL, as he was buried on the depth chart behind Jonathan Taylor, Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson. Taylor handled the vast majority of the work out of the backfield, leaving very few opportunities for the backups in Indianapolis. The 25-year-old Goodson should continue to improve and get acclimated to the Colts' offense heading into his second season, and it's possible he could take on a bigger role as a backup behind Taylor with Abdullah and Goodson entering free agency this offseason. |
|
Tyler Goodson Tyler Goodson One carry in season finale
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 11:02 AM
Goodson rushed once for three yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with nine rushes for 24 yards, adding two receptions for eight yards on three targets in 11 appearances.
Analysis: Goodson was a nonfactor this season, barely seeing the field on offense. The 25-year-old running back played well behind Jonathan Taylor and Ameer Abdullah in the Colts' backfield rotation throughout the 2025 campaign. With that said, Goodson will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, giving Indianapolis the opportunity to match any offers he may receive from other teams in free agency. Based on his limited usage, it remains unclear if the Colts will try to keep him in their locker room or afford him the opportunity to catch on with another team ahead of next season. |
|
Ameer Abdullah Ameer Abdullah Three touches to conclude season
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 10:31 AM
Abdullah rushed once for one yard and caught both of his targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with 14 rushes for 60 yards and one touchdown, adding 16 receptions for 99 yards on 17 targets in 13 appearances.
Analysis: Abdullah finished the 2025 campaign having very little impact offensively, a theme for the veteran running back for most of the season. The 32-year-old operated as one of the Colts' top backup options out of the backfield, but he was unable to get much going each week with starter Jonathan Taylor handling a large majority of the work at running back. Abdullah will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but his age and lack of impressive production may make it difficult to garner much interest from teams around the league. |
|
Mo Alie-Cox Mo Alie-Cox Stays involved in season finale
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 10:25 AM
Alie-Cox secured three of four targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 38-30 season-finale loss to Houston.
Analysis: Alie-Cox didn't log a single appearance with more than one catch across the first 14 games of the 2025 campaign, but he compiled two, three and three catches in Indianapolis' final three contests, with one touchdown in that span. He wraps the season with a 13-117-1 receiving line on 20 targets, while having suited up for all 17 regular-season games and handling a depth role behind rookie standout Tyler Warren. Alie-Cox, who has spent all eight seasons of his NFL career so far with the Colts, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. |
|
Ashton Dulin Ashton Dulin Held without a catch in finale
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 10:21 AM
Dulin could not secure either of his two targets during Sunday's 38-30 season-finale loss to Houston.
Analysis: Dulin suited up for 12 regular-season appearances with the Colts in 2025, during which span he secured five of 10 targets for 106 receiving yards and logged three carries for 44 rushing yards. He also compiled a career-high 516 yards as a kick returner. He has one more year on his contract with Indianapolis, though the team has a potential "out" this offseason for only $670,000 in dead cap. |
|
Sean McKeon Sean McKeon Inks deal with Colts
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 1:53 PM
The Colts signed McKeon to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Analysis: McKeon was elevated to the Colts' active roster in Week 18, where he played seven snaps on offense and eight on special teams, but the 28-year-old did not obtain any stats. McKeon will have the opportunity to participate in the Colts' offseason activities and attempt to earn a spot on their active roster next season. |
|
Josh Downs Josh Downs Four catches in defeat
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:16 PM
Downs caught all four of his targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to Houston.
Analysis: Downs was able to secure multiple passes for the seventh straight game while his 61 receiving yards were his second-highest total over that stretch. The wide receiver has now completed his third campaign in Indianapolis having caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns while also adding one carry for three yards and 68 yards on punt returns over 16 regular-season contests. Downs will enter the offseason on the final year of his rookie contract. |
|
Michael Pittman Michael Pittman Two catches in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:06 PM
Pittman caught two of four targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Pittman was limited to two catches for the second straight week, and he finished with fewer than 40 receiving yards for the fourth game in a row to end the season. The wide receiver was able to reel in 80 of 111 targets for 784 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns over 17 regular-season contests, but he ended the year having gone without a score in the final six contests. With Alec Pierce set to enter the offseason as a free agent, Pittman may enter next season as the Colts' undisputed No. 1 wideout. |
|
Tyler Warren Tyler Warren Five grabs to cap first NFL season
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:57 PM
Warren caught five of eight targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans.
Analysis: With Riley Leonard getting his first career start at quarterback, Warren wound up being nothing more than a security blanket and check-down option for his fellow rookie, with his longest gain going for just nine yards. The five receptions still led the Colts, however. Warren puts his first NFL season in the books with a 76-817-4 line on 112 targets, and depending on how the team solves its QB dilemma this offseason, the tight end could be poised for a Year 2 breakout. |
|
Alec Pierce Alec Pierce Huge performance to cap campaign
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:44 PM
Pierce caught four of seven targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans.
Analysis: With Riley Leonard getting his first career start at quarterback, Pierce stepped up as the rookie's top downfield option, hauling in a 66-yard score in the first quarter and an eight-yard TD in the second. The fourth-year wideout wasn't able to add to his numbers in the fourth quarter, however, getting ejected late in the third for making contact with an official while complaining about the lack of a pass interference call on a potential third touchdown. Pierce finishes 2025 with career highs in catches (47), yards (1,003) and targets (84) while scoring six TDs, but his fantasy appeal next year will depend a great deal on how the Colts solve their QB dilemma this offseason. |
|
Jonathan Taylor Jonathan Taylor Held in check in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:38 PM
Taylor carried the ball 14 times for 26 yards and caught both his targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans.
Analysis: It was the least productive game of the season for Taylor, as his longest run went for only eight yards and rookie DJ Giddens wound up leading the Colts with 30 rushing yards. Taylor missed his chance to catch James Cook for the NFL rushing crown, but he still wraps up an impressive campaign with 1,585 rushing yards and a career-high 18 TDs on the ground, along with a 46-378-2 line on 55 targets through the air. The 26-year-old RB will head into 2026 as the centerpiece of the Indianapolis offense. |
|
Riley Leonard Riley Leonard Produced three TDs in first start
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:25 PM
Leonard completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He added 21 rushing yards and a TD on three carries but lost two fumbles.
Analysis: Despite the turnovers, it was a surprisingly productive performance from the sixth-round rookie in his first career NFL start against an elite Houston defense that still had something to play for when the game began. Both of Leonard's passing TDs went to Alec Pierce, and the QB's one-yard rushing score in the third quarter briefly gave Indy a 24-23 lead. The Colts' quarterback situation heading into 2026 remains murky with Daniel Jones (Achilles) a free agent and Anthony Richardson (eye) barely playing this season and getting little chance to further his development, but Leonard is unlikely to find himself at the top of the depth chart in Week 1. |
|
Philip Rivers Philip Rivers Inactive for season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:48 AM
Rivers is inactive for Sunday's season finale against the Texans.
Analysis: With Rivers inactive, Riley Leonard is slated to start Sunday's contest, with Seth Henigan set to serve as his backup. Rivers started the Colts' previous three games, but with the team out of playoff contention, the veteran QB will be kept out of harms way in Week 18. |
Connect With Us:
