Colts Training Camp: 8 Takeaways for 2026

The Indianapolis Colts have completed training camp after 14 practices, including three joint sessions with the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, and a preseason tilt in New England.

The team now prepares for its matchup with the Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, then finishes the preseason against the Detroit Lions before whittling the roster down to 53 players by Aug. 30.

Here are some of the most significant takeaways and things we've learned from the Colts' summer.

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones had surgery to repair a torn Achilles in December. When camp started, it was Jones' first taste of 11-on-11s and facing a pass rush since the injury. We saw him participate in 7-on-7s during mandatory minicamp in June, but that was a fraction of what he'd have to do during 11-on-11s. Not only has Jones navigated the pocket well and adequately hit necessary markers on the field with his feet, but he's also taken off for scrambles several times and looked good doing it. By no means do you watch Jones play and think it's a quarterback coming back from a major Achilles injury. What was once the biggest concern facing the team is now a complete afterthought.

Like Jones, top wide receiver Alec Pierce had offseason surgery, going under the knife in March to repair his left ankle, which had been bothering him since late in the 2024 season. The recovery is a projected 4-6-month process, and as a result, Pierce remained on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list throughout training camp. In the final week of camp, Pierce was seen working out to the side with trainers, but has yet to practice. At this point, there are only three weeks until the Colts' first game, meaning Pierce almost certainly will not be thrown head on into his new role as the Colts' WR1. He'll likely need to be brought along, bit by bit.

The Colts traded away former top wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the offseason, which was a necessary move to clear significant cap space and make more room in the passing game for players like receivers Pierce and Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren, but they didn't add a clear replacement. Initially, Ashton Dulin was set to be the Colts' new third receiver, while newcomer Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Laquon Treadwell also battled for a spot on the roster. However, with Pierce out for all of training camp, we got a glimpse of the fact that one injury during the season could have any of Dulin, Westbrook-Ikhine, or Treadwell playing a major role on offense, and that likely would not be good enough. This week, the Colts signed 34-year-old veteran Keenan Allen, one of the most accomplished receivers of his era, who previously played seven seasons for head coach Shane Steichen while the two were with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Allen shouldn't be in line for a major role, but his supportive role should help bring reliability and stability to the receiver corps.

The Colts entered the offseason wanting to recharge their edge group. They allowed veterans Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis to walk in free agency, and Ebukam and Lewis got direct replacements in additions Arden Key and Micheal Clemons. However, after the Colts missed out on Trey Hendrickson replacing Kwity Paye, there's yet to be another move. It shuffles everyone up a peg, as Key, who's been a career rotational piece, is in line to start and replace Paye opposite Laiatu Latu, while Clemons and Jaylahn Tuimoloau provide initial depth, followed by rookies George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry. Latu is the only for-sure starting edge rusher on the team, and even he needs to take a big step forward in his development. Otherwise, the Colts are hoping Key becomes the best version of himself at 30 years old, while unproven young players such as Tuimoloau, Gumbs, and Curry can contribute more than history suggests they will. Losing out on Hendrickson really should have had a follow-up move.

The Colts' linebackers looked too slow and reactive for much of 2025, and they've largely been replaced by younger, more explosive, proactive players. The biggest move the Colts made this offseason at linebacker was trading Zaire Franklin and replacing him with CJ Allen in the draft. Allen was essentially anointed Franklin's replacement right away, but I'm not 100% convinced that Allen will be the Colts' Week 1 starter at MIKE as of right now. We've seen a whole lot of Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies as the top two linebackers in the last week, and for a young player like Allen who's missed a handful of training camp practices with groin and hamstring injuries, why would they not be giving him as many reps as possible to catch up if he were the starter? There are still a few weeks before the regular season, and the Colts have rotated linebackers heavily throughout camp, so perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but lately, Davis-Gaither and Carlies have been favored. Even if Allen doesn't start Week 1, it doesn't mean he won't start as soon as the Colts feel he's ready.

Early in camp, Colts defensive backs had the clear advantage against Dulin, Treadwell, and Westbrook-Ikhine. The DBs were excelling in an environment that they were expected to. However, through three joint practices with the Patriots and Falcons, the high level of play really didn't dip. Sauce Gardner and Justin Walley in particular have had outstanding summers. At safety, Cam Bynum has had several PBUs and interceptions, and rookie A.J. Haulcy has been one of the cleanest players on the defense when it comes to mental errors.

Up and down the Colts' rookie class, you can see starters and contributors. Allen and Haulcy are in the mix to either be starters are significant contributors, running back Seth McGowan, guard Jalen Farmer, edge defenders Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr., and linebacker Bryce Boettcher have all had impressive camps. Seventh-rounder receiver Deion Burks, and undrafted offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark, linebackers Tahj Chambers and West Weeks, and cornerback Rob Carter Jr. have all made compelling cases to make the regular-season roster as well. The Colts will need to rely on a rookie class that's already shown some skill.

Established veteran players who are relatively new to the Colts have looked to Steichen as to why the Colts can be successful in 2026. Gardner told reporters that Steichen was "a top-three playcaller" in the NFL before detailing what makes Steichen effective. Allen also pointed to Steichen as the reason he joined the Colts, calling Steichen a "genius" multiple times. Last year, when the Colts began the season at 8-2 and were among the top teams in the NFL, it was evident that Steichen's messages were getting through and that the team was winning in his image. If they remain healthy in 2026 and are on top of their game again, Steichen's fingerprints will be all over the outcome.