Sep 8, 2026 7:59 PM
Updated Sep 8, 2026 8:10 PM
The Indianapolis Colts have released their first depth chart of the regular season. What sticks out?
Indianapolis Colts HC Shane Steichen spoke ahead of the team's Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens about QB Daniel Jones, WR Alec Pierce, and more. (Video via Jake Arthur/ColtsRoundtable)More Videos
The Indianapolis Colts finally have their sights set on Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday as they welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Ahead of the kickoff matchup, the Colts have released their first "unofficial" depth chart of the regular season, and it falls in line pretty well with what ColtsRoundtable has reported throughout the offseason.
Here's what sticks out about the Colts' initial depth chart.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard
It's felt like a foregone conclusion for a few months now that Jones would be 100% and ready to go by now after Achilles surgery in December. He took all the planned first-team reps throughout training camp and hasn't looked like a player returning from a major surgery. Behind him, Richardson won the backup job over Leonard after "making more plays" in the preseason, according to head coach Shane Steichen.
RUNNING BACK
Jonathan Taylor, Seth McGowan, DJ Giddens
There was a competition for the backup duties at running back as well, with rookie seventh-round pick McGowan running away from Giddens early in the summer. McGowan has been a decisive, tough, determined runner who's caught everything thrown his way and looked good in pass protection. While it's not been to the level of McGowan, Giddens has looked adequate after a rocky start to camp.
WIDE RECEIVER
X: Alec Pierce, Laquon Treadwell
Z: Keenan Allen, Ashton Dulin, Deion Burks
SLOT: Josh Downs
Pierce's return from ankle surgery and Allen's addition have let everyone in the receiver corps fall into their natural roles and play to their strengths. We could see Allen and Downs used interchangeably in 11 personnel, while Dulin plays more on run downs and Allen sees more action in obvious passing situations.
TIGHT END
Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree
The Colts kept the status quo here, with the only exception being that fourth tight end Will Mallory is on temporary Injured Reserve with a thumb injury. Otherwise, Warren will see the lion's share of the work, with Alie-Cox and Ogletree coming in to primarily provide blocking.
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT: Bernhard Raimann
LG: Quenton Nelson, Dalton Tucker
C: Tanor Bortolini, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
RG: Matt Goncalves, Jalen Farmer
RT: Jalen Travis, Luke Tenuta
The Colts' starting line has remained untouched all offseason, but the second group has been a bit of a toss-up. They were all but forced to trade for Pran-Granger after Tucker's rough attempt at center, but having him and Farmer provide backup at guard is likely best. Meanwhile, Tenuta may be the team's best option to fill in at tackle in-game, while Goncalves could start at either tackle spot if an injury occurs, with Farmer moving into the starting lineup.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
DE: Arden Key, Jaylahn Tuimoloau, George Gumbs Jr.
DT: DeForest Buckner, Adetomiwa Adebawore
NT: Grover Stewart, Jerry Tillery, Tim Smith
DE: Laiatu Latu, Micheal Clemons, Caden Curry
The Colts are very reliant on young players taking big steps. We did see real growth this summer from guys like Latu, Adebawore, and Smith, and rookies Gumbs and Curry were pleasant surprises. However, the Colts need the likes of Key, Tuimoloau, and Tillery to be strong contributors who play above their outside perception. The Colts added plenty of players this offseason, but was the group of them good enough at the top to make a difference?
LINEBACKER
MIKE: Akeem Davis-Gaither, CJ Allen, Austin Ajiake
WILL: Jaylon Carlies, Bryce Boettcher, Tahj Chambers
There will be quite the rotation at linebacker throughout the year, according to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. While Davis-Gaither and Carlies will get most of the work initially, it's only a matter of time before Allen becomes the most frequent flyer. Allen missed several days of camp with groin and hamstring injuries, which put him a bit behind the 8-ball until he's up to speed. Expect to see Boettcher and Ajiake in some capacity, too. It may take the Colts a little while to figure out who they like best in certain situations.
CORNERBACK
CB: Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., Johnathan Edwards
NCB: Justin Walley, Kapena Gushiken
This group looks a little thin initially while Cam Taylor-Britt serves his Week 1 suspension, but he helps add good depth as someone capable of playing on the boundary and inside in the slot. He did both throughout the summer and looked adequate doing so. On paper, this'll be one of the Colts' best cornerback groups in years if Gardner, Ward, and Walley can stay healthy, which eluded the trio last year.
SAFETY
FS: Cam Bynum, Jonathan Owens
SS: A.J. Haulcy, Hunter Wohler
The strong safety competition has gone back and forth all summer, but once Haulcy grabbed hold, he's been relatively firm in that spot. Wohler got most of the work early in camp before a hamstring injury cost him a week-plus, giving Haulcy the edge. However, Haulcy has missed the last couple of weeks with an ankle injury, and Wohler has filled in since.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P: Rigoberto Sanchez
K: Spencer Shrader
H: Rigoberto Sanchez
LS: Luke Rhodes
KR: Ashton Dulin, Seth McGowan
PR: Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin
Shrader won the kicking competition over Blake Grupe after Grupe dominated camp and Shrader put a stranglehold on the preseason. Grupe has since joined the New York Jets. Elsewhere, the Colts are determining their strongest returner for kickoffs and punts, and they'll work it out throughout the week ahead of Sunday. On Tuesday, special teams coordinator Brian Mason said they wouldn't announce a decision on a punt returner yet, and that Dulin will factor into the kickoff return game.
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