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Seth McGowan Seth McGowan Impresses with tough running
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 8:04 AM
McGowan churned out a "handful of big gains" on the ground during the Colts' joint practice session with the Patriots on Tuesday, Joel Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Erickson notes that the New England defense stymied both Jonathan Taylor and McGowan throughout the first half of practice, but the Colts' ground game was more effective when the session shifted to the red-zone portion after a special-teams period. McGowan, a seventh-round rookie out of Kentucky, has been serving as the Colts' No. 2 back behind Taylor for most of camp while DJ Giddens has been sidelined by a hamstring injury and has drawn positive reviews for his physical running style. McGowan could still have the early edge for the top backup role even if Giddens is able to get back on the field in the near future, though the performance of both players over one more joint practice and three preseason games will carry the most weight when it comes to depth-chart slotting. |
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Riley Leonard Riley Leonard Playing in second half Thursday
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 5:06 PM
Leonard will be under center for the second half of Thursday's preseason game against the Patriots, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Anthony Richardson will draw the start for Thursday's preseason opener and play for the first half before turning the keys over to Leonard for the last two quarters. Richardson and Leonard are battling for the backup job behind Daniel Jones, though Richardson may not be with the Colts for the start of the 2026 regular season after requesting a trade from the team in the offseason. Leonard was a sixth-round selection of the Colts in the 2025 NFL Draft and started in Week 18 against the Texans, when he completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while turning three carries into 21 yards and a score. |
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No timeline for return
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 4:19 PM
Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters Tuesday that Ward (back) does not have a timeline for return, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ward has not practiced in training camp due to a back issue that also prevented him from participating in minicamp in June. He's unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against New England, and it remains to be seen whether Ward will suit up for any of the Colts' exhibition games. Cam Taylor-Britt (suspension), Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards will all see more reps with the first-team defense at outside cornerback for as long as Ward is sidelined. |
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Anthony Richardson Sr. Anthony Richardson Sr. In line to start preseason opener
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 3:07 PM
Richardson will start Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Per Boyd, Richardson will start off the first half of the contest, while fellow QB Riley Leonard will start the second half. Then in the team's second preseason tilt, Aug. 22 against the Falcons, that arrangement will be reversed. The two signal callers remain in contention to serve as Daniel Jones' top backup this coming season, and will have their chance to make their cases for slotting on that front in the coming weeks, with Jones not slated to play in the preseason. |
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Daniel Jones Daniel Jones Won't play this preseason
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 11:44 AM
Jones won't play in the preseason, according to Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com.
Analysis: From all accounts, Jones' recovery from a season-ending torn right Achilles that he suffered in Week 14 last season has gone well, but the Colts are evidently playing it safe with their starting QB, with an eye toward preparing him for Week 1 action. Per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star, Anthony Richardson will start Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots and play the first half, while Riley Leonard will work in the second half, an arrangement that is in line to be reversed in the team's second exhibition tilt against Atlanta. |
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Alec Pierce Alec Pierce 'Making great progress' in ankle recovery
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 10:44 AM
General manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that while Pierce is without a timeline to return from the PUP list, the wideout has avoided any setbacks following late-March surgery on his left ankle and is making positive strides in his recovery, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports. "It's been like any rehab," Ballard said of Pierce. "There's ups and downs. There's a new normal that they have to get used to. But there's no setback. He's in good shape. He's making great progress. Every player comes back differently, and we feel good about where he's at."
Analysis: According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Ballard noted that he still anticipates Pierce will be ready to play Week 1 against the Ravens, though the wideout still has some hurdles to clear in the recovery process. Ballard also debunked reports from Monday indicating that Pierce recently required a second platelet-rich plasma injection for his ankle, with the GM relaying that Pierce's only PRP treatment came back in January before he had surgery two months later. Though he's not practicing with the Colts while on the PUP list, Pierce was in attendance for Tuesday's session and was seen taking part in individual work off to the side, per Boyd. After trading away Michael Pittman and rewarding Pierce with a four-year, $114 million contract earlier this offseason, the Colts are counting on the 26-year-old Pierce to take on a heightened role in the aerial attack in 2026 after he had mostly operated as a low-volume vertical threat over his first four seasons in the league. |
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Alec Pierce Alec Pierce Involved in individual work Tuesday
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 9:54 AM
Pierce (ankle) was present for Tuesday's practice and took part in individual work off to the side under the supervision of a trainer, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke about Pierce's situation Tuesday, noting that the wideout initially attempted to treat his ankle injury with a platelet-rich plasma injection in January before opting for surgery two months later when the PRP shot didn't yield the desired effect. Ballard added that Pierce has suffered no setbacks and required no follow-up procedures or PRP shots following surgery, which typically carries a recovery timeline that ranges from 4-to-6 months. Any concern about Pierce's ankle didn't deter the Colts from signing him to a four-year, $114 million contract in March, but the fifth-year player still looks like he has a few more hurdles to clear before returning dividends on that investment. He currently remains on the PUP list and won't be eligible to participate in practice until he gets activated. |
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Josh Downs Josh Downs Makes return to practice Tuesday
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 9:40 AM
Downs (groin) is back at practice Tuesday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: While the extent of Downs' participation is uncertain, a quick return to practice confirms his groin injury isn't serious. He was held out over the weekend and now seems ready to return after missing just a few days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still unavailable, Downs is the unquestioned No. 1 WR at Indianapolis practices these days. |
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Alec Pierce Alec Pierce Avoids second PRP injection
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 8:34 AM
Pierce didn't require a second platelet-rich plasma injection for his surgically repaired left ankle, contrary to what was previously reported, according to Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star.
Analysis: A league source previously relayed that Pierce required the second shot, but the source recanted and said it had misspoken. Another source confirmed that the wideout hasn't required any follow-up procedures since undergoing surgery in late March. Even so, Pierce has been sidelined for the entirety of the Colts' offseason program and training camp, and head coach Shane Steichen hasn't provided a firm target date for when he might come off the PUP list. Pierce has been one of the NFL's top vertical threats the past two seasons while averaging 20-plus yards per reception in both years, and after signing a lavish four-year, $114 million deal to remain with Indianapolis, the team is counting on him taking on greater target volume in 2026. |
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Alec Pierce Alec Pierce Receives second PRP injection
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 8:13 PM
Pierce (anke) received a second PRP injection in his left ankle this offseason, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pierce initially attempted to get over his left ankle issue by receiving a PRP injection following the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, but he ultimately was forced to undergo a "clean-up" procedure in April. The wide receiver has missed the entirety of the Colts' offseason program and training camp to this point, and head coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Pierce doesn't currently have a timetable to return to resume practicing. A platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is a process in which a concentrated dose of a patient's own blood platelets is injected to help heal damaged joints, tendons, ligaments and skin. Pierce received the second injection in late June, per Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis, and Chappell outlined that a second treatment is not abnormal and helps the healing process. |
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Seth McGowan Seth McGowan Emerging as top backup RB?
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 9:57 AM
James Boyd of The Athletic suggests that McGowan has emerged as the Colts' top backup running back.
Analysis: Per Boyd, with DJ Giddens having been sidelined with a hamstring injury, McGowan has seen added reps of late with the first- and second-team offense. While Jonathan Taylor is the Colts' undisputed top back, and those behind him on the depth chart are off the fantasy lineup radar as long as he's healthy, the pecking order behind him remains of interest in the event that he misses time for any reason. Though Giddens still has a chance to make a push for the RB2 role ahead of Week 1, he'll first need to get back on the practice field to build any momentum toward that end. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Pushing for WR3 role
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 3:40 PM
Westbrook-Ikhine's stock has risen in training camp as he battles for the Colts' WR3 role behind Alec Pierce (ankle) and Josh Downs (groin), James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The absences of Pierce and, most recently, Downs, has provided Westbrook-Ikhine with the opportunity to work in an expanded role in the first-team offense. So far, Westbrook-Ikhine has answered the call, and the veteran wide receiver has strengthened his case for the No. 3 job ahead of Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell. Westbrook-Ikhine's best year came in 2024 with the Titans, when he caught 32 passes (on 60 targets) for 497 yards and nine touchdowns across 17 regular-season games. |
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D.J. Montgomery D.J. Montgomery Signs with Indianapolis
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 2:31 PM
The Colts signed Montgomery to a contract Sunday.
Analysis: Montgomery was not tendered by the Colts in early March but has found his way back to the team. Fellow wide receiver Liam Clifford was waived in a corresponding move to make room for the familiar face. The team is trying out a variety of players at the position as Alec Pierce (ankle), Josh Downs (groin) and Laquon Treadwell (hamstring) remain injured. |
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Riley Leonard Riley Leonard Set to play Thursday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 2:28 PM
Leonard is set to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Leonard is preparing to share snaps with Anthony Richardson as the two battle it out for the backup quarterback role behind starter Daniel Jones. It remains unclear which contender is set to receive the dominant snap share Thursday, and in-game performance will likely play a role in the final decision. |
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Anthony Richardson Sr. Anthony Richardson Sr. Playing Thursday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 2:24 PM
Richardson is set to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Richardson is set to share snaps with fellow quarterback Riley Leonard in Thursday's game as the two continue to compete for the No. 2 quarterback role behind Daniel Jones. Richardson has had a rough run in training camp and will need to show out during the preseason to keep his spot as the backup. |
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Daniel Jones Daniel Jones Unlikely to play Thursday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 1:20 PM
Jones is unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Boyd adds that Jones will only participate in Tuesday's joint session against New England, and the veteran quarterback may not any preseason games while in the final stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in December. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson will be the Colts quarterbacks for Thursday's exhibition contest, the first opportunity for the duo to compete for the backup role behind Jones. |
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DJ Giddens DJ Giddens Nursing hamstring injury
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 1:04 PM
Giddens did not participate in Sunday's training camp practice due to a hamstring injury, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan reports.
Analysis: It's unclear when Giddens tweaked his hamstring, but it jeopardizes his chances of participating in Tuesday's joint practice with the Patriots on Tuesday, as well as Thursday's preseason opener against New England. The 2025 fifth-rounder entered training camp as the RB2 behind Jonathan Taylor, so an extended absence for Giddens would free up reps for rookie sixth-rounder Seth McGowan and Ulysses Bentley. |
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Josh Downs Josh Downs Could practice Tuesday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 12:19 PM
Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Downs (groin) could potentially be available for Tuesday's joint practice with the Patriots, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Downs was held out of Saturday's practice due to a groin injury, but the positive news is that he is considered day-to-day. Participating in Tuesday's joint practice would be a step in the right direction for the fourth-year wideout, though he may be held out of Thursday's preseason opener against New England. |
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Josh Downs Josh Downs Nursing groin injury
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 10:01 AM
Downs did not participate in Saturday's training camp practice due to a groin injury, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: It's unclear when Downs picked up the injury or the severity of the issue, but his status will be worth monitoring over the coming week ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. The 2023 third-rounder is lined up for an expanded role in the Colts' offense this season after Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers in March. Downs is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 58 passes (on 88 targets) for 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games. |
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Now dealing with hamstring issue
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 8:30 PM
Wohler has not participated in recent training camp practices due to a hamstring injury, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: There's no timeline of return for the 2025 seventh-rounder, who was sidelined for his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot that he suffered in a preseason game in August of 2025. Given the lack of a recovery timeline, it appears Wohler is unlikely to be available for the Colts' preseason opener against the Patriots on Thursday. |
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