The collective heart of Indianapolis Colts fans skipped a beat or two early on Wednesday when star tight end Tyler Warren went down with an injury. According to reports, Warren was holding his groin area and walked off the field gingerly with a trainer. Colts fans have been shut out ever since.
And in that silence, it was easy to think of a worst-case scenario for the second-year stud. Although the team just added Keenan Allen and has a handful of other offensive weapons, Warren has been on a tear and could very well be the focal point of Shane Steichen's offense. He would be a big loss.
Thankfully, though, Indianapolis supporters got some great news on Wednesday evening. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported that Warren simply suffered an adductor strain during training camp practice, and he "is going to be fine." The Colts even expect him to be back next week.
Phew!
Colts' Tyler Warren expected to return next week after training camp groin injury
As Schultz also noted, Warren could have been sidelined with this injury well into the regular season, but the plan is to have him back next week, at the latest. That is far from the disastrous possibilities that were certainly on the table when the Pro Bowler went down in practice.
Now, Steichen and Co. still need to be careful with the young player. Groin injuries can be finicky, and there is no need to rush Warren back. He is as established as anyone in Indianapolis, and a few reps in a preseason game or training camp practice won't matter as much as a clean bill of health.
Groin injuries, in particular, are known to nag players for a long period of time, even if they are referring to his ailment as an "adductor strain." These are important muscles for a football player (as they all are), so the Colts really have no business playing him any sooner than he's ready.
Saturday's preseason match with the Atlanta Falcons is obviously off the table, and next Saturday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions should also be a no-go for Warren. It just simply isn't worth the risk of losing the young player for the games that actually matter.
As of this writing, the Colts have just under a month until they kick off the 2026 NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Getting Warren healthy for that game is the priority, and frankly, the only thing that matters.
Steichen knows that he can trust Warren, and the second-year pro should know the playbook like the back of his hand. Plus, maybe his absence can help players like Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory get more involved in the passing game or feel more comfortable taking on expanded roles.
Listing those three players, of course, is also a reminder of how critical it is that Warren stays healthy in the long term. Those players make their contributions, but they can't do what Warren can on the football field. He needs to be healthy for what should be a battle for the AFC South crown in 2026.
Getting a promising prognosis is just the first step in this process, though. Warren needs to take care of himself, and the team needs to protect him from himself. In an overall sense, though, this is good news for the Colts and all Indianapolis fans.
Add us as a preferred source on Google