Let's be positive and assume that the Indianapolis Colts will make the playoffs in 2026, which would be their first time since 2020. We can also optimistically assume that the team will win the AFC South. In order to do those things, the team must first go through training camp and the preseason.
As of Monday, Indy fans and the team know when some important dates are that relate to those events. As for training camp, the NFL announced that rookies will arrive beginning July 27. That is just a day before veterans arrive on, of course, July 28.
This means that the rookies, such as second-round linebacker CJ Allen, need to be fully ready to go when veterans, who want to earn starting spots too, come to camp. The month of preparation between June and late July will be fundamental to how much a rookie gets to play.
Indianapolis Colts now know the dates for the start of training camp and joint practice sessions
The team will also participate in a couple of joint practices. While these were already known, they have now become official. The Colts will practice against the New England Patriots on Tuesday, August 11, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. This is two days before the teams play a preseason game against each other on Thursday, August 13.
Indianapolis will host the Atlanta Falcons on August 19 and 20, it appears, just days before the teams play a preseason game on Saturday, August 22. This will be the second preseason game for both the Indianapolis Colts and the Falcons.
Indy will finish its preseason schedule against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, August 29. After that, the next biggest decision is which players to keep on the active 53-man roster. Final cuts have to be made by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 30. After that occurs, teams will be scrambling to sign practice squad players.
All of this means that in just a bit over a month from the time of this article's writing, the Colts will begin what could be a franchise-altering season in 2026. Maybe quarterback Daniel Jones will even return from his torn Achilles tendon injury by the time the final preseason game is played (not that he will participate in the game itself, however).
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