When veteran running back Khalil Herbert was injured in the Indianapolis Colts' first preseason game of 2025, it seemed to clear the path for DJ Giddens to play a significant role in Indy’s offense during his rookie year.
The Colts’ primary backup from 2024, Trey Sermon, was gone. Sermon had carried the ball just 56 times last season. The Colts were desperate to provide workhorse Jonathan Taylor, who logged 303 carries in ’24, some help in the backfield.
It looked as if the battle for Taylor’s backup would come down to Khalil and Giddens. Tyler Goodson was also in the mix, but he was on the roster for his special teams prowess more than his running. There were a handful of other long-shot free agents whose ceiling was likely to be the practice squad.
Indianapolis Colts are still trying to figure out what they have in DJ Giddens
Giddens was chosen in the fifth round of the 2025 draft, the 15th running back selected. Under normal circumstances, not too much would be expected of a rookie in that position. But he had proven to be such a solid running back at Kansas State, averaging better than 6.5 yards per carry throughout his entire career, that hopes were high he could spell Taylor.
When the 2025 season began, Goodson was still dealing with an injury, and Herbert had been released. Giddens was the clear RB2. He carried the ball 12 times in the opening day blowout win over Miami.
Then … virtually nothing.
Though he suited up for seven more games, the rookie carried the ball just six more times and gained 25 yards. He was targeted twice in the passing game but did record a reception.
Indianapolis picked up veteran Ameer Abdullah a month into the season, and he immediately leapfrogged Giddens. Goodson had a spot due to his special teams play, which left Giddens on the outside for half the season. Coming into the league, he was not viewed as a proficient pass catcher or blocker, nor did he play special teams.
Entering the final game of a lost season, Giddens has been on the field for a total of 50 snaps. Though he dealt with minor reported injuries, he has been a healthy scratch in multiple games.
Those questions regarding his ability in other areas – primarily as a receiver and pass blocker – were known quantities when Chris Ballard selected him. Ideally, he would show progress during his rookie season, and it is entirely possible he has done just that in practice. The fact that he has not appeared in many games does not necessarily mean he has not improved.
But he was touted as a strong, reliable runner. In college, he showed all the requisite tools … vision, power, burst. If he didn’t have the overwhelming physical ability of blue chippers like Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton, he looked like a reliably productive runner.
But he has not shown that this year. While backs selected after him, like Kyle Monangai and Jacory Croskey-Merritt, have carved out significant roles for themselves, Giddens has receded.
That might not be such a major issue on another team. But the Indianapolis Colts have been looking for someone … anyone … to provide a little relief for Jonathan Taylor ever since he entered the league. The Colts’ star has averaged more than 250 carries throughout his six seasons. This year, he topped 300 carries for the third time in those six years.
That pace is unsustainable. Since his spectacular Week 10 performance against Atlanta, Taylor’s production has plummeted. After that game, Taylor’s 2025 rushing stats had him in the conversation for MVP. Six yards per carry. More than 100 yards per game. 15 touchdowns. And that doesn’t even consider what he did as a receiver.
In the six games since that Falcons win, Taylor is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. 70 yards per game. Three touchdowns on the ground. He workload has been almost identical. His production has gone from MVP to mediocre. And in case you forgot, the Colts have lost all six of those games.
There are multiple factors involved in the dropoff. Injuries at key positions, better defenses dedicated to slowing him down. But it is foolish to think that overwork is not part of the problem. Taylor is a spectacular, durable athlete, but he isn’t Superman.
The fact that DJ Giddens has not been able to provide desperately-needed relief in his rookie season does not doom him for 2026 and beyond. He could certainly still develop into a quality running back. But his rookie season has left fans with more questions than answers. Clearly, Shane Steichen did not trust him to play a meaningful role this season.
The shelf-life for running backs is the shortest of any position in football. A single season may be too soon to write anyone off, but look for the Colts to consider new options this offseason. The clock is already ticking for DJ Giddens.