The Indianapolis Colts hope for a significant jump from running back DJ Giddens in year two.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have the fortune of being home to one of the most productive running backs in the game of football, Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor not only led the NFL in carries (323) last year, but also rushing (18) and total touchdowns (20).
Because of the way he takes care of his body, Taylor is rarely hurt, even to the point of seldom missing any practice time. However, the Colts' reliance on Taylor and their luck in keeping him available cannot be counted on as a sure thing.
As a result, they must have someone behind him who is capable of shouldering the load for even a handful of snaps per game, let alone if Taylor were to need to miss any playing time during the season.
The Colts selected running back DJ Giddens in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but despite the team being bullish on him, he was unable to secure a consistent role in the offense.
He was active for just nine games as a rookie, largely because he did not play special teams. If a backup isn't going to have a significant role on either side of the ball, then they need to be useful on special teams. Otherwise, teams find it difficult to justify making them active on gamedays.
"Yeah, you know what, he's kind of a glider runner, good slasher, stretch-cut guy that's a physical runner," Colts head coach Shane Steichen said about Giddens' rookie year. "Saw a little bit in training camp, obviously, last year, and in the reps that he got, late in the season against Houston. So, I'm excited for his growth and his development as a runner."
Sep 7, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (21) runs during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesGiddens may already be facing a make-or-break summer, as the Colts drafted another running back, Seth McGowan, this year in the seventh round. McGowan doesn't have much of a special-teams background either, but he's a more violent, decisive runner and was a capable pass protector in college.
The Colts know what they want to see from Giddens in order for him to win the backup job behind Taylor and carve out his place on the team.
“Yeah, I think there's growth. I think understanding the system going into Year Two is a part of it, and I think we'll see a lot of the growth going into training camp when the pads come on," Steichen said about Giddens going into 2026. "Because it is hard to look at running backs with no pads on, but you can still see a little bit of the vision in the cuts and stuff, but the physicality when the pads come on is going to be a big deal.”
While special teams helps get you active on gamedays, being reliable on third down in the passing game, both as a pass-catcher and pass protector will be significant for Giddens.
“As a pass protector is going to be big going into Year Two," Steichen said. "Obviously, there's a lot of exotic blitzes that you’ve got to pick up in this league, and taking the next step in his growth process in that stuff.
“Third downs in this league, you’ve got a whole bunch of stuff coming at you that you’ve got to be prepared for, and you prep for each and every week, but obviously the back's got to be a huge part of that in protection.”
The Colts certainly want to see what Giddens can provide in an expanded role, not only as relief to Taylor, but a complement to the veteran. However, it's up to Giddens to prove that he's taken a significant step in his development before they can award him with the opportunity.
