The Indianapolis Colts are suffering a brutal season that required a bit of a teardown. Just before the trade deadline, the team sent four players with expiring contracts packing. It was needed.
But a 2-7 start shouldn't completely overshadow players who are doing their jobs fairly well. Even in the gloom, there is a bit of positivity.
Some of the bright spots will keep helping the Colts in the future. Build a team around them, and the rebuild could happen more quickly than most anticipate. That is the hope anyway, though a new head coach might be needed.
Indianapolis Colts midseason awards in an otherwise lost season
Most surprising success - Laquon Treadwell
Maybe Treadwell's relative success has more to do with literally any wideout needing to get passes instead of Treadwell's specific greatness. In fact, he hasn't been great, but he has been better than he was in the previous season. The 2016 first-round pick was a bust for the Minnesota Vikings, and he isn't a Pro Bowler with Indy.
He does have 16 catches and will likely get more in the second half of the season with Keenan Allen and Josh Downs traded. Those 16 catches are his most since he had 33 in 2021, so he could eclipse that and his career high (35) by the time the season is done.
Best offensive player - Jonathan Taylor
This is the same case almost every season, of course. Taylor is not only one of the best running backs in the NFL, but he is arguably the best back in Colts history. Despite having fewer carries than in previous seasons by this point in the year, Taylor ranks eighth in the league in rushing yards (656) and sixth in rushing touchdowns (six).
Best defensive player - Adetomiwa Adebawore
Had DeForest Buckner not been traded to the San Francisco 49ers, he would be listed here. That isn't to take anything away from Adebawore, though. He began to tick up in form in 2025 and has exceeded that level in 2026.
The defensive lineman has 20 pressures, four sacks (tying his career high from 2025), 11 quarterback hits (nearly doubling his previous personal best), and has been better against the run. After signing a recent extension, he won't be leaving the Colts anytime soon.
Coach of the Year (so far)
One could argue that no coach has been very good, but that would be overlooking the job that wide receiver coach Reggie Wayne has had to do. The team basically gave him very little to work with, and he has still managed to get improved play out of people like Treadwell.
Wayne will be tested even further for the rest of the season, assuming Alec Pierce doesn't come back until next season. With Allen and Downs gone, the team doesn't have a proven receiver left. With the passion that Wayne coaches with, though, maybe he should be the head coach the rest of the way in 2026.
Rookie of the Year (so far)
As odd as it sounds, based on the overall defense, some defensive rookies have begun to play better. One of those is linebacker CJ Allen, finally getting an opportunity to show why he was chosen in the second round.
But the best rookie so far has been running back Seth McGowan. He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and has 208 yards rushing. He is also averaging 27.9 yards per return on kick returns. He was a draft steal in the seventh round and should be a long-term player in Indianapolis.
MVP - Spencer Shrader
Taylor could go here, too, but despite his rushing success, the team is still only 2-7. If not for Shrader, the Indianapolis Colts would only have one win because his long kicks helped defeat the Houston Texans 19-17. He has only missed two field goals, and had he been worse, Indy would have had a couple more times when they were blown out.
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